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Worries about his health have forced the former Test fast bowler Wes Hall not to offer himself for re-election as the president of the West Indies Cricket Board next month.The Rev. Hall issued a statement today saying he had informed the West Indies Board and the Territorial boards of his decision before the annual general meeting on July 13. “I am not seeking re-election because of a pre-existing medical condition which is exacerbated by stressful situations and constant travel,” he said. “As a consequence, I have decided to pay maximum attention to my health at this time.”He added that these were exciting times for West Indies cricket, and that he would have liked to have been involved in the processes – but he admitted that his unspecified condition meant he would have to help where he could from “beyond the boundary”.According to Hall, the continuing climb towards regaining the goal of sides of excellence from the region, and the hosting and winning of the World Cup in 2007 were two aspects of this development in the West Indian game. “I would wish to have continued in the capacity of president to guide the organisation along the path of achieving these and other goals, but I must now be contented to help wherever I can from beyond the boundary.”At this stage I would first like to thank God for his guidance and allowing me to continue to fulfill my desires which include serving West Indies cricket. I would also like to thank the many persons and organisations who have been helpful in expediting my duties as president.”And he concluded: “I look forward to observing the steady progress of West Indies cricket at a time that presents many challenges but even greater opportunities.”

Right arm leg spinner Danish Kaneria, debutant Taufiq Umer and veteranSaeed Anwar shared limelight on the opening day as Bangladesh foundout the harsh realities of top level cricket in the Asian TestChampionship opener at the Multan Cricket Stadium Wednesday.Watched by around 12,000 spectators, the 20-year-old Danish, playinghis third Test, captured six for 42 – his Test best figures – to helpPakistan spin out Bangladesh for a paltry 134 some 40 minutes beforetea.Later, 20-year-old left-handed opener Taufiq Umer carried on his fineform by celebrating his Test debut with a strokeful and attractiveunbeaten 77 as Pakistan finished the opening day’s play at a healthy219 for two from 46 overs, a lead of 85 with eight wickets in hand.Veteran Saeed Anwar also had reasons to smile on a hot and humid daywhen he became the sixth Pakistan batsman to complete 4,000 Test runswhile reaching 49 on way to a scoring a fluent almost run-a-ball 101.It was his 11th century and first in 11 innings from seven Tests. Hislast was against Sri Lanka in Galle last year.Saeed, the 33-year-old playing his 55th Test, smashed 17 blisteringboundaries and a six before falling to 16-year-old Mohammad Sharif.Trying once too often to play his elegant wristy on-drive, theenigmatic former captain, was caught at square leg by Hasibul Hossain.Faisal Iqbal failed to take advantage of heaven sent opportunity ofgetting some runs under his belt. The 19-year-old was bowled by Sharifto a delivery that kept low and crashed onto the stumps after takingthe inside edge of the bat.Danish bowled exceptionally well and pushed the ball in the air whilepicking up his wickets in just 13 overs. He was devastating, mean andbowled with purpose.The leg spinner got the ideal start which a wrist spinner wants toapply the pressure and pick the line as early as possible. An overpitched delivery was belted by opener Mehrab Hossain but Faisal Iqbalpicked up an extraordinary reflex action catch at silly point. Catcheslike this are not seen too often and only shows the brilliant reflexesFaisal has.From then on, there was no stopping Danish as he mixed up hisdeliveries intelligently and spun the ball from the right areas.Danish, who also had a successful tour of Sri Lanka with Pakistan ‘A’in May-June, has the spark of becoming a successful wicket-taking legspinner. He, however, received support from over-ambitious and illplanned Bangladesh batsmen who looked in a hurry and decided to throwtheir wickets rather than making full use of batting first afterwinning the toss by keeping themselves cool and composed.Their batting display was a reflection of the bad habits they havecaught by playing 42 one-dayers against three Tests. But surely whenthey will play more longer duration of games, they will also learn theart of occupying the crease and punishing the loose balls.Off-spinner Shoaib Malik, who also earned a Test cap, picked up twocheap wickets while Waqar Younis who made the early breaks accountedfor two. Wasim Akram remained wicketless in his 10 overs but he shouldconsider himself unlucky when Saeed dropped a waist-high catch in thefirst slip. The former captain, who was as mean as ever, could havebeen a different bowler had Saeed not showed greasy palms.Taufiq Umer, who stroked a masterly 113 against the same side in thethree-dayer, matched Saeed Anwar with stroke by stroke.The trademark of Taufiq’s innings was his ability to stroke boundariesin front of the wickets. Bulk of his 11 boundaries were eitherstraight or through the covers as he fully cashed in on the halfvolleys and over-pitched stuff hurled by the tourists.Taufiq was as confident against pacers as against the slow bowlerswhen he worked them around to maintain the flow or runs. His alsodisplayed his hunger for big innings when he became cautious afterreaching his half century from 55 balls with nine boundaries. Atstumps, he had faced 123 deliveries and looks well poised to becomethe eighth Pakistani to score a century on debut.

Paul Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, has followed Alastair Cook in praising Peter Moores for laying the groundwork for the team’s recent success. Cook paid tribute to former head coach Moores after England’s innings victory at Trent Bridge saw them regain the Ashes and Farbrace echoed the sentiment, saying he would “defend him to the hilt”.Moores was sacked in May after the appointment of Andrew Strauss as England’s director of cricket. While England experienced a tumultuous year during Moores’ second spell as coach, he showed faith in a number of young players who have steadily helped improve the team’s fortunes.His final series in charge was a 1-1 draw in Tests against West Indies but the group stage exit at the World Cup cast an even longer shadow. Moores and Farbrace, who was brought in as assistant at the same time, had six months of 50-over preparation but saw the team fail even to reach the knockout stage after defeat to Bangladesh in Adelaide.England have made impressive strides in ODI cricket since then, while continuing the Test revival that Moores laid the foundations for after the 5-0 Ashes whitewash in 2013-14. Farbrace said Moores “gave absolutely everything to England” and backed him to do well with Nottinghamshire, where he has been working in a consultant capacity.”Following Mooresy down the tunnel at Adelaide was horrible. I did not enjoy seeing him take the stick that he did, and I will defend him to the hilt,” Farbrace said. “That bloke gave absolutely everything to England. I am so pleased that Cooky mentioned him because he did nothing but work hard for the team. He will still be in touch with the majority of the boys.”It is no surprise that he has come to Notts and in the time that he has been there he has improved them massively.”From my point of view, I hated the winter, I hate losing, but I have really, really enjoyed the last few months. But the team will go on long after I am finished with the England team, and be a very exciting team in the future.”England’s defeat to Bangladesh in Adelaide ended their World Cup at the group stage•Getty Images

Farbrace described England’s World Cup as a “disaster” but said it had helped provide the motivation to improve. Farbrace led the team in a thrilling 3-2 ODI victory over New Zealand, before the arrival of Trevor Bayliss as coach, and the feelgood factor established during that series fed into England’s dramatic Ashes surge.”We were all low. I said at the time in Sydney, it wasn’t Peter Moores’ fault we failed in the World Cup. He did nothing but work his socks off for England cricket. He is an excellent coach and bloke and was a very popular member of our group.”The decision was taken to change the coach after that World Cup. It was a disaster, there is no getting away from it. We didn’t play well. We got blown away in the first game and I don’t think we ever recovered. We were all hurting. Your pride takes a hell of a hit. You bump into people on the street and they say ‘Oh, you work with the England team, you are rubbish’. It hurts, it really does hurt.”The last week in Australia was a horrible week for all of us. Players get stung by that criticism. But we came back and the lads just felt it was time to change the way we were playing and our approach to certain things and they have carried that out. And we have seen the improvement.”England’s attacking approach, which saw them win the third and fourth Tests against Australia inside three days, was formed in part during the visit of New Zealand, with Farbrace filling an interim role in charge of the side. He pinpointed a counterattacking stand between Joe Root and Ben Stokes on the first day of the first Test of the summer – a game England ended up winning by 124 runs – as the catalyst for what followed.”Against New Zealand I don’t think we set out to be an ultra-attacking team,” he said. “It just happened by chance, at 30 for 4 on that first day at Lord’s, that Root plays one way, get his singles and scores boundaries, and Stokes came in and whacked it. And all of a sudden the headlines were ‘this new England way of playing’. But I think we stumbled across it as opposed to set out to play in that way.”I think it suits us. You look at the way the middle order play and they are all quite attacking batsmen. Trev keeps telling them to have a positive mindset, because then you are in the best position to play whatever ball is delivered to you – in the best position to leave, defend or hit it.”England’s sense of team unity played a big part in their Ashes victory•PA Photos

Farbrace also praised the ethic that has been instilled within the side, of enjoying success as a group. He offered Jason Roy – who continued to attack while opening in the ODIs against New Zealand despite the lack of a significant score – and Moeen Ali adapting to bat at No. 8 in the Test side as examples of the team’s needs taking priority, before highlighting Stokes’ pivotal display with the ball at Trent Bridge, where his second-innings 6 for 36 sealed the victory that returned the Ashes.”An interesting relationship has developed between Cooky and Ben Stokes,” he said. “Over the last 18 months or so, Stokes has wanted to bowl more and maybe Cooky hasn’t always trusted him to bowl so he has had short spells. Stokes knows he has short spells so he has been trying to impress with inswingers, bouncers, yorkers, whatever.”What we are now seeing, is that Stokes has had a couple of good spells and has been thrown the ball a bit more. So he is getting confidence from Cooky, Cooky is getting confidence in Stokesy, and now he is bowling spells like he did on Friday – a long spell which was needed for the team.”So the next time we are in that situation, Cooky will have no qualms about chucking Ben the ball knowing that he can do it, and Ben won’t feel like he has to prove himself every time he bowls. When players are not trying to prove something to the captain or coaches and just playing the way the team needs them to play, that is a great place for a team to be.”

Say what you like about all of the on-field errors that West Indies’ cricketers have committed on this tour of Australia. But save some energy for condemnation of the off-field howlers too. The omission of batsman Ricardo Powell from a Test squad sorely lacking attacking strokemakers, for instance, was a glaring oversight. And it was one that it took him just ninety deliveries to authenticate as he led his side to a tense one wicket win with eight balls to spare in the Carlton Series match against Zimbabwe here at the ‘Gabba ground in Brisbane tonight.For all of the unpredictability and mystique that one-day international cricket has relinquished over the course of the last nine months, it still retains an innate capacity to produce wonderful twists and turns and breathtaking finishes. This encounter was one to exemplify the fact. West Indies’ seventh match against international opposition on this tour and Zimbabwe’s first on Australian soil in six years, it developed into the sort of cliffhanger rarely witnessed in this country in recent years.With another disappointing West Indian batting surrender occurring around him, much rested upon the broad and powerful shoulders of Powell (83*). He strode to the crease in the twenty-fourth over with his team staring down the barrel of another defeat at a score of 4/119 as it set out after Zimbabwe’s 9/240. Yet he handled the difficult situation with the class and sophistication of a player who has been presented with far more than thirty-six one-day internationals and a solitary Test to underline his prowess.Powell was denied the opportunity of enhancing a career statistic that shows he has struck more sixes than fours – for the record, he struck nine shots into the boundaries and only one over it – but scored from exactly half of the deliveries that he faced. He deployed the sweep stroke and the cover drive with particular aplomb. Against an attack which was steady but unspectacular, his strokeplay was little short of magnificent.Had Stuart Carlisle and Travis Friend capitalised upon a golden opportunity to run him out in the fortieth over when he had only forty-seven runs alongside his name, Zimbabwe might have defended its total. The pair did not; the team did not.Variously, the Zimbabweans had reduced their opponents to scores of 3/72, 5/137 and 6/155 at different stages of the evening. Despite resolute performances from Sherwin Campbell (42) and Marlon Samuels (34), the West Indian top order was generally unable to effectively kickstart its team’s chase. Wavell Hinds (0), Brian Lara (21) and Jimmy Adams (24) again struggled to occupy the crease for anything but brief periods. Lara, in particular, played another carefree innings that looked unsuited to the situation.That the Zimbabweans had set the West Indians such a chase owed much to the hard work of opener Alistair Campbell (81) at the top of its batting order. On the occasion of his 150th one-day international, the hard-hitting left hander was in supreme form, rewarding captain Heath Streak’s decision to bat first on a hard, straw-coloured pitch upon winning the toss.The former Zimbabwean captain lost out-of-sorts opening partner Trevor Madondo (6) early in the day but looked comfortable from the outset, even amid a fine new ball burst from Cameron Cuffy (1/52 off nine overs) and Nixon McLean (3/48 from ten overs). He played straight early, hitting a number of solid drives through the arc between mid off and mid on, before gradually playing more expansively and striking some exquisite blows through the off side in particular. Moreover, in the midst of fifty-four and eighty-six run partnerships for the second and third wickets with Carlisle (29) and Andy Flower (33) respectively, he nullified any apparent threat offered by a West Indian attack that did not seem to have enough in the way of strike bowlers to crash through on the placid ‘Gabba surface.But the Zimbabweans ultimately lacked the necessary polish to capitalise upon Campbell’s performance. Wickets were surrendered too readily in the middle and latter stages of their innings; slips catches were dropped; misfields and overthrows were too prolific; run outs were missed. They played with a heart and a zest that, at times, was entrancing. However, they brought to their game some unforgivable sins too.The task of securing victory certainly requires more than just heart in circumstances like these. They conceded a forty-six run stand in thirty-four minutes to Powell and Mahendra Nagamootoo (8) for the eighth wicket that proved decisive in the final analysis. Nagamootoo was removed with twelve runs still left to attain, and McLean was forced to beat a path back to the pavilion with two runs required and eleven deliveries remaining. Cuffy (1*) scrambled a single from a shot played through square leg to level the scores and then Powell – by this stage with only the medium pace of Guy Whittall (2/16 off 3.4 overs) left to counter given that Streak had already fully utilised the services of all of his best bowlers – issued a powerful blow over mid wicket.The knowhow and nerve that the Zimbabweans had needed to ally to their enthusiasm had somehow eluded them. As it was, the West Indians possessed slightly more in the way of both commodities when it really mattered.

Harbhajan Singh has claimed Australia targeted him with “personal and vulgar” words during the second one-day match in India while Andrew Symonds was “disappointed” with the behaviour of Sreesanth. Sreesanth attempted to run-out Symonds in a move even Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s captain, initially thought was a joke.After the match Harbhajan was not laughing and said the Australians had shown themselves to be bad losers after their defeat to India in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup. “They clearly did not like that,” Harbhajan said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “They are a very good cricket side, but that does not mean that they can do whatever they want to do.”They say they play the game in the right spirit, but they don’t in reality. There is nothing gentlemanly about the way they play.”After being dismissed by Michael Clarke in the 84-run loss, Harbhajan waited mid-pitch and pointed his bat. “I was responding to a lot of vulgar words that were said to me,” he said. “I don’t have any problem with chitchat on the field, so long as it is about the game. But when it is very personal and vulgar, that is not on. They think you cannot fight back and they do not like it when you do.”The Australians were also upset with the opposition’s actions and Symonds said Gilchrist had spoken to Sreesanth during the match. “[He] tried to explain to him it’s best to try and get on with the game and try not to get tangled up with some of the childish exchanges,” Symonds said in the Australian.Symonds, who hopes to get a mental edge over India before they tour Australia in December, said he was disappointed when Sreesanth attempted to run him out when he was going to speak to Brad Haddin. Dhoni told Sreesanth: “That is not the way you get the batsman out, you get him out some other way.””I went back and made my ground,” Symonds said, “and I just went down to give Brad some support. He was doing his best and failed to make contact with that particular ball, and I didn’t see the need for him to be at Brad like he was. When I go to another sport I like to see confrontation, I’ll admit that, but you don’t want to see ugly confrontation and you don’t want to see confrontation that degrades your sport.”Shane Warne, who is in Melbourne, did not think Sreesanth’s overall behavoiur was “over the top”. “It’s going to add a bit of spice to the summer,” Warne told AAP. “Everyone’s going to be looking for Sreesanth to do his stuff and it shows with a bit of passion. I think it’s going to be good for the summer.”

Two days on from England’s debacle at Adelaide, and the shockwaves show no sign of abating. Even the squad’s timely flight 1300 miles to the west to Perth, the most isolated city in the world, couldn’t provide any respite, as they were greeted by backpage headlines in the West Australian lampooning “Duncan the Dunce”, and “England’s out-of-tune missile launcher”, Steve Harmison. It’s remarkable really. Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne are basking in the glory of their greatest Test win, and yet the rest of their country seems to be mourning the premature end to a hugely-hyped contest.Tomorrow’s Lilac Hill festival match, therefore, comes an ironically inopportune moment. Since 1990-91, this fixture in the Swan Valley has been the official curtain-raiser to Australia’s international summer, but tomorrow it becomes something else entirely – an inconvenient interruption in a week when the squad would like nothing better than to sink into a uranium mine and hide. And that’s exactly what they seem to have done. None of the Adelaide XI will be featuring. Instead Alec Stewart emerges from retirement to captain a side featuring two fellow veterans in Robin Smith and Adam Hollioake, with the numbers being made up by three Academy members and all five of the Ashes reserves.The spotlight, therefore, turns instantly to one man, and one man only. Monty Panesar, the BBC Cause Célèbre of the Year, has three days between now and the start of the third Test at the WACA next Thursday to win over his remaining doubters on the England selection committee, and cement the Test place that most of the country believe is his by right. Whether it takes petitions, protests or questions in the House, England need him to take the field on December 14, if only to rid themselves of the defensive mindset that contributed to that defeat at Adelaide.”I guess it’s flattering that people back home are saying nice things,” said Panesar during the Academy’s practice session at the South Perth Oval, “but selection isn’t in my control. I’ve got to focus on what I need to do, and prepare myself. If I get a chance I won’t put pressure on myself or do things differently. I’m just going to bowl the way I’ve been bowling since I came into international cricket.”Panesar happened to be sat in front of a giant image of himself in the midst of a wicket celebration – an indication perhaps of England’s new mindset. But in towing the party line, he accidentally revealed the very real fear that has clouded their tactics all tour. “The exact reason [for my omission] is my batting. If we lose a quick couple of wickets in the first session, we need a good balance in the batting line-up because maybe we could be skittled for 150.”Panesar is not the only man with a point to prove in this match. Sajid Mahmood looked good in the nets at Adelaide and will be pushing for an opportunity ahead of James Anderson at Perth, while Chris Read – virtually anonymous since he was unceremoniously dumped from the team after the Champions Trophy – would love nothing better than a nice big score to dangle in front of Geraint Jones, whose Test average has slipped below 25 after 63 runs in four innings.One significant figure won’t be featuring at Lilac Hill, however. Michael Vaughan’s rehabiliation continued yesterday with a 40-minute innings for the Academy against Western Australia 2nd XI. He made just 9 from 21 balls, but had a brief middle practice today at South Perth. An ECB spokesman did confirm, however, that he would come into the reckoning for the two-day match at the WACA on Saturday.Vaughan’s shadowy presence on this tour has not been welcomed by all. Angus Fraser, writing in The Independent, believed it was undermining Andrew Flintoff’s attempts to stamp his authority on the squad. ” Acting as a stand-in captain is tough at the best of times,” said Fraser, “but when the boss is constantly sticking his nose in it is near impossible.”Nevertheless, he is here and consequently the “will he, won’t he” questions will not die down until the series has been won and lost, regardless of Fletcher’s latest hint that the timeframe was too short for an Ashes comeback. “There’s not much cricket between now and the third, fourth and fifth Tests,” Fletcher told the BBC. “Until he’s confident in his knee, we won’t consider Michael Vaughan.”But, even if Panesar does get his go at the WACA, and even if Vaughan’s knee does come through the trials of the coming fortnight, the damage to the squad’s self-belief and unity has already been done. The least they can do is unwind a bit, and get stuck into the corporate hospitality at Lilac Hill tomorrow.England XI Alec Stewart (capt), Chris Read, Ed Joyce, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett, Monty Panesar, Adam Hollioake, Robin Smith, Jon Lewis, Owais Shah, James Dalrymple (subject to fitness)CA Chairman’s XI Justin Langer (capt), Luke Ronchi (wk), Chris Rogers, Luke Pomersbach, Marcus North, Adam Voges, Brett Dorey, Sean Ervine, Peter Worthington, Ryan Campbell, Chris Matthews, Jo Angel.

The dust on this summer’s Ashes series has finally settled, and after a 62-day break England’s focus switches towards Pakistan and Multan. And ours, too, as we prepare ourselves for a shockingly-early 4am start. To help us through the early mornings, it’s time for another caption competition.The captain is injured, Marcus Trescothick is seeking advice from his wife and, below, Matthew Hoggard has already received his first massage of the tour. But what, we ask you, was he or the bystanders thinking?Submit your answers by logging in (and registering, if you haven’t already done so) below – and we’ll publish the best, and worst, once the dust settles (literally) on the Multan Test. The best three will each win a copy of David Frith’s book, .

ARY Digital, a Dubai-based multi-channel cable television operator, has bida record US$48 million for Sri Lanka’s broadcasting and sponsorship rightsfor the next four years.ARY Digital’s bid was larger than WSG Nimbus(US$46.6 million), ESPN Star(US$40.6 million) and Taj Television, the current rightholders, who bid lessthan US$40 million, according to cricket sources. However, Taj Television, another Dubai-based broadcaster which runs TEN Sports, arenot completely out of the running having secured “matching rights” clause intheir current contract. They can win the bidding process by agreeing to payUS$48.5 million.The bids represent a substantial jump in income for Sri Lanka Cricket whichhas been facing financial difficulties during the past two years because ofa legal wrangle with WSG Nimbus. The stiff competition for the rights – which include television, radio, internet, wireless and title sponsorship rights – follows the announcement that the four-year period, from Jan 2005, will include three tours by India.India are due to play triangular series in 2005 and 2006 as well asundertake a full Test and ODI tour in 2008. England and Australia, the twoother most popular visitors, will also tour during the contract period. The bidding, for the first time managed by an independent auditor, was completed onJuly 22.

When the teams arrived in the morning, with the ground cloaked in drizzle and the pitch wrapped in tarpaulins, Sri Lanka feared the worst. To share the points and travel to monsoon-soaked Colombo for the next round of matches was potentially disastrous. But seven hours later, their worst dreams had not materialised as Sri Lanka pocketed five points after a nervous five-wicket win.Unfortunately, the most crucial part of the match was the toss. MarvanAtapattu won that contest and Sri Lanka were afforded the considerableadvantage of bowling first on a moist pitch with a serious overnightsweating problem. Sure enough, the ball darted around viciously during the first hour and a double strike from Prabath Nissanka with the new ball left New Zealand tottering on 18 for 3.New Zealand, who consider themselves experts in these low-scoring dogfights, rallied briefly with Lou Vincent compiling useful stands with Chris Cairns (28 in 30 balls) and Jacon Oram (48 in 81 balls). But as the pitch dried, Muttiah Muralitharan started to find it to his liking. He took his second three-for of the tournament and New Zealand were bowled out for 139 in 43.1 overs.However, Sri Lanka’s middle order was so shaky, and the pitch so dicey, that the result was still not a foregone conclusion. But New Zealand missed an early chance off Sanath Jayasuriya – a shotgun cut that nearly blew a hole through Chris Harris’s midriff at short point – and Sri Lanka survived the threat of the new ball. Soon Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana, who was promoted up the order as Sri Lanka looked for the bonus point, were motoring towards victory.Even after the dismissal of Jayasuriya, who miscued an attempted pull to end a 68-run stand for the first wicket, and Kumar Sangakkara, who trod on his stumps, Sri Lanka looked certain winners as Atapattu and Kaluwitharana added 47 runs for the third wicket. However, if was not plain sailing for Sri Lanka as they first lost their momentum – after deciding against the pursuit of a bonus point – and then lost three wickets for four runs, slipping from 116 for 2 to 120 for 5. Kaluwitharana, who top-scored with 48, edged behind, Atapattu was well caught in the covers and Mahela Jayawardene nicked one to the wicketkeeper.With 18 runs need from the lasted 24 balls it was suddenly a tight match and a quiet crowd suddenly came alive. However, Tillakaratne Dilshan (18 not out), who was recalled for this match in place of Russel Arnold, smacked 17 runs in the over, including four boundaries. Chaminda Vaas lofted the winning runs in the next over.Although the toss was important, Sri Lanka produced a mighty impressivedisplay in the field. A few weeks ago they wouldn’t have caught a cold in a monsoon downpour, but in this tournament they plucked catches out of the air like greedy children do ripe mangoes. Kumar Sangakkara led the way with an acrobatic effort at slip in the second over to dismiss Stephen Fleming (6 for 1). He followed that up with a nimble catch diving forward off Scott Stryis after Atapattu had knocked down the stumps from cover-point to dismiss Chris Nevin (18 for 3).New Zealand decided that the best form of defense was attack and Cairnsdecided that he was the man for the job. He smote one imperious lofted drive and crunched another off the back foot as Dharshana Gamage’s first over in international cricket cost 11 runs. Twenty-eight runs flowed in 30 balls but Atapattu’s faith in Gamage paid dividends. Gamage’s bald head may make him look double his 24 years but he proved his reactions as sharp as any youngster’s as he clung on to a mistimed drive from Cairns (46 for 4).Oram (20) and Vincent (32) continued the fightback, though. They punished anything loose against the seamers and frustrated the spinners for a while too as they added 48. On 94 for 4, New Zealand were heading for a defendable total but Muralitharan intervened. He took a simple return catch after deceiving Oram in the air.Jayasuriya followed up soon after, trapping Vincent leg before, and Muralitharan dismissed Brendon McCullum for a duck in similar fashion. Harris biffed some meaty blows in an unbeaten 20 before Muralitharan wrapped up the innings to finish with 3 for 16 from 8.1 overs.Sri Lanka’s fine performance in the field ensured a level pegging at the end of the first round, with all the teams on six points. Unfortunately, with the remaining matches now having being shifted from Colombo to Dambulla because of the southwest monsoon, there is no hope of bat dominating ball in the next stage. During the four-day break before the nest match, all three captains will be sharpening their coin-tossing skills.

Gloucestershire completed a resounding victory by an innings and 59 runs at Lord’s with Middlesex being all out for just 119 in their second innings.Having been dismissed for 222 shortly after lunch on the fourth day, Middlesex were made to follow-on 178 runs behind.It took Gloucestershire less than three and-a-half hours to wrap up the home side’s second innings having claimed their first four wickets within twenty overs. Andy Strauss went in the third over and Owais Shah in the fifth, both scoring one.Ian Harvey, who did not bowl in the first innings then claimed the next two wickets. He had Stephen Fleming caught at short leg with the total on 23 and two runs later, ten minutes before tea, Paul Weekes was held low at first slip without scoring.Middlesex had a glimmer of hope of saving the match when Robin Weston and David Alleyne put on 80 for the fifth wicket. But with Weston being bowled by Mark Alleyne for 40, off 101 balls an hour into the final session, and David Alleyne also going on the total of 105, for an adventurous 44 from 58 balls which included five boundaries and a six, there was little resistance left.Chad Keegan and Angus Fraser both fell on 109 followed by Ben Hutton, without scoring. He had earlier gone off injured while batting and came out again at the fall of the seventh wicket.Finally, Harvey, who finished with 4-20 from 14.2 overs, completed the task for the west country side having Tim Bloomfield caught behind for two.Earlier this morning, Middlesex, having resumed on 141 for four and needing a further 110 runs with six wickets standing, to avoid the follow-on, made it difficult for themselves losing four wickets in a space of an hour.Mark Alleyne struck the first blow for Gloucestershire having Ben Hutton caught behind after the left-hander had added only six – in half-an-hour – to his overnight 29.The first bowling change proved most effective with Alleyne replacing himself with James Averis who responded with two wickets off successive balls. He had Stephen Fleming caught behind off the last ball of his first over and then claimed Chad Keegan’s wicket in the same manner, both falling on 169.After a 30-run partnership for the eighth wicket, Middlesex lost two more wickets to the medium pace of Averis. Angus Fraser, 16, in attempting to flick to leg was snapped up at short mid-wicket and on the penultimate ball before lunch Tim Bloomfield fell as he skied his drive to extra cover.Averis’ excellent effort had given him 4-11 before lunch to which he added the last Middlesex wicket after the break.