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Titans will be be counting on the experience of AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel to guide them in the Champions League T20, after a trophy-less domestic season

Firdose Moonda20-Sep-2013Overview
The most successful South African franchise had a lean summer in 2012-13 and did not collect a single trophy. They finished last in the first-class competition they were defending, fared slightly better in the fifty-over tournament and were beaten in the final of the Twenty20 competition.But the defeat that stung them most was their semi-final loss to the Sydney Sixers in last year’s CLT20. The match was snatched away from them off the last ball and then-captain Martin van Jaarsveld was obviously stunned at the media engagement afterwards. Titans are seldom used to coming off second-best, and to succumb to defeat at home in a tournament where they fared well, hurt them.They have a second chance, having qualified to play in the CLT20 again albeit in vastly different conditions to their own, and they will fancy their chances of bettering their showing because they are an almost entirely different unit. For a change, they will have some big-name internationals, who usually are unavailable for them, in their line-up and they will also be lead by a new coach.Van Jaarsveld, who has retired, will not be around to lead them. Instead, Henry Davids, who has already captained them in the longer format, takes over in all competitions. Davids is an experienced domestic player who has learned to manage his charges well but will also hope his leadership skills get noticed by those in decision-making positions at national level and maybe even an IPL franchise.He’s not the only player who will want to use this shop window as a way to showcase himself. Fit-again Marchant de Lange, who has recovered from a stress fracture which kept him out of the game for most of last summer and a rib niggle which bothered him in pre-season, is another. Charging in to bowl at 150kph plus, de Lange will be looking to make a case for a national recall. Opening batsman Davids and allrounder Roelof van der Merwe are also players to watch out for.Most importantly, Titans will use this event to begin a new era. After a difficult last season, and following the departure of the much-loved Matthew Maynard, they seemed to have lost some direction. But a changing of the guard may have breathed fresh verve into them. The CLT20 could be the place to show that off first.Key players
Although Titans have lost Albie Morkel and Faf du Plessis to Chennai Super Kings, who are incidentally in their group, they have the good fortune of having two other key national players in their squad. AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel would have played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils respectively, but neither team qualified.International and T20 commitments mean they rarely turn out for Titans even though both of are products of the franchise. It presents the conundrum of who to leave out to make room for these must-have players, but it a problem any franchise would be happy to have.De Villiers, who gives them a third wicket-keeping option after Heino Kuhn and Mangaliso Mosehle, can bat anywhere in the order, while Morkel will spearhead their pace attack. Both players have had ample experience having toured India, and could be ideal mentors for some of the younger crop.Weaknesses
A change in leadership can be a positive, but it could also trip Titans up, especially as it will be their first assignment with new personnel in charge. Rob Walter, formerly South Africa’s fitness and fielding coach, has taken over from Maynard and may have a baptism of fire in one of cricket’s biggest club tournaments.Walter has not had any competitive experience with his squad, although they have played a few warm-up games, so he has not had time to allow his style to sink in. Add to that that Titans do not often have the national players at their disposal and Walter’s management just became tougher. Without having had the time to come up with patterns of play, Walter’s credentials will be tested on the toughest stage.Surprise package
In a squad packed with international players, Titans sometimes don’t have room for an under-the-radar type, but Ethy Mbhalati is one of their longest-serving. Mbhalati leads the attack in all their domestic games, and is known for his accuracy. Although he does not have the pace of de Lange or Morkel, his discipline should serve him well on the slower tracks of the subcontinent.

Myles Hodgson at Old Trafford10-May-2013Lancashire 177 (Phillips 3-20) and 253 for 7 (Prince 80, Brown 80, Topley 5-80) beat Essex 226 (Napier 102*, Procter 4-66) and 203 for 3 dec (Cook 60, Mickleburgh 53*) by three wickets
ScorecardSaj Mahmood suffered another head-in-hands moment against his former club•Getty ImagesSajid Mahmood may have pictured a triumphant homecoming on his return to Old Trafford with Essex, who he joined following an acrimonious departure from Lancashire during the winter, but instead he suffered a final day that will haunt him for many years to come.The stage was set for Mahmood, furious that Lancashire were not prepared to offer him a new contract at the end of last season, to deny his former team a thrilling victory as they attempted to chase down 253 off 51 overs on the final afternoon. That target was later reduced by four overs by an interruption for bad light, but it was Mahmood’s intervention that proved decisive.Given the responsibility to bowl the 44th over of the innings, with Lancashire needing 32 to win off the final four overs, it was pretty much the turning point of the match as Steven Croft helping himself to 15 off the final five balls, including a six over midwicket and an all-run four through the covers.If that was not enough of a setback for Mahmood, he was to play an even bigger role in the final over, with Lancashire needing five runs to win having lost three wickets in the previous over. They scored four off the first four deliveries before Wayne White launched Graham Napier to Mahmood at long leg, only for him to spill the regulation catch and allow the single to be scrambled that secured victory.”When we saw that last ball, we all ended up with mixed feelings,” said Karl Brown, whose 80 in a 169-run stand with Ashwell Prince proved crucial to Lancashire’s win. “Saj is a great mate of a lot of the lads, we’ve played with him for a long time and it’s not nice to see that happen. We won the game so we were really happy, but I think we all spared a thought for Saj because that’s not nice when that happens, especially to someone you’re so close to.”Lancashire’s triumph came a week after they dismissed Glamorgan for 139 at Colwyn Bay chasing 154 for victory and boosts their promotion hopes. That the umpires saw fit to dock each side a point for slow over rates was barely noticed in either dressing room after such a compelling advert for county cricket.Essex, in particular, deserve plenty of credit for their role in such an exciting finale. Having reached 203 for 3 overnight and in little trouble, they could have watched from the dressing room for the final afternoon and enjoyed batting practice in the middle.Instead they set up a game to remember and so nearly secured an astonishing win themselves. They began the final afternoon impressively, dismissing both Lancashire openers in the space of three balls to leave them struggling on 13 for 2. Despite an outstanding opening spell from Reece Topley, and Mahood troubling Lancashire’s batsmen with his pace and bounce, Essex could not dislodge Brown and Prince during their 198-ball partnership.Both fell in quick succession for 80, Prince bowled by Topley making himself room and Brown in similar fashion to Napier, only for Steven Croft and Simon Katich to add 41 in four overs to leave Lancashire needing 12 off the final two overs.Just as victory was in sight, Topley responded by claiming three wickets in an over to finish with 5 for 80, with Croft falling to a brilliant diving catch from Rob Quiney in the deep that forced him off the field with a shoulder injury.It left Lancashire facing a tense final over, which was finally settled by Mahmood’s misfield, and left Essex rueing missed opportunities. “We took a bit of a punt, but the way we’d been playing, showing a lot of character and skill, we thought it was an excellent opportunity to get a win under our belts and get a lot of points,” captain James Foster said. “It was a risk but we thought it was a calculated risk.”

Several corporate governance and legal experts believe that the BCCI has abdicated its administrative responsibility in its handling of the IPL scandal

Sharda Ugra31-May-2013Several corporate governance and legal experts believe that BCCI officials’ repeated calls to “let the law take its course” in the IPL corruption scandal is an abdication of administrative responsibility masked by a falling back on the legal process.TV Mohandas Pai, former board member of Indian software giant Infosys and chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, says that in the best practices of corporate governance an organisation would “hold itself out to be transparent and well-governed and then the legal action is taken.” In the current situation, by Pai’s standard, this best practice required Srinivasan to first stand down as BCCI president and then allow the three-member commission set up by the Indian board to take its decision against his son-in-law.In professionally-run corporations, Pai – who speaks from experience as a former chief financial officer of Infosys – said in an email to ESPNcricinfo, “administration action is first taken to clear the ground for investigation so that the truth is found out.”In Srinivasan’s case, Pai said, “the basic charge here is that an insider, Gurunath, leaked confidential information to outsiders, traded on the same and benefited/lost money.” As an insider, Gurunath, was “facilitated in terms of access by the president Srinivasan.”Even if he was merely an “enthusiast,” Gurunath was seen in the dugouts and Pai said, “(had) held himself out openly in the presence of the president as being deeply associated with Chennai Super Kings and for all purposes was the face of the CSK. Without this relationship he would have no position and no access. Even if there is no direct charge against Srinivasan, by his conduct he has been compromised.”Lawyer YP Singh, a former officer with the Indian police and in the Central Bureau of Investigation (India’s federal investigative agency), said it was necessary that a clear distinction be made between legal and administration action and the level of proof required by both.Singh, who has dealt with high-profile cases of financial fraud, said legal action required “beyond reasonable doubt” before issuing a judgement and finding a person guilty. “You need beyond reasonable doubt to send someone to jail.Administrative action does not require ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. Administrative action can be taken at any time.” It required, he said, what the legal community referred to as, “the preponderance of probability.” (The “degree” or the “likelihood” of the incident taking place is a bit lower as compared to beyond reasonable doubt.)During his Kolkata press conference, Srinivasan’s defence of his refusal to stand down hinged on the fact that he had committed no offence and there was a legal process in place. Through this defence, Singh said, the BCCI was trying to take administrative action, “after the investigation is complete … that is legally impossible. A thorough legal investigation takes years.”In such a situation, the administrative action required by the BCCI should have been thorough and speedy. To redress the BCCI’s shortcomings as of now in this case, Pai said, “Srinivasan would need to resign or step down from his position or take a sabbatical, hand over power to a committee of directors who would handle the investigation and if the investigation by independent third party finds nothing against the president, then he can easily redeem his dented honour.”Corporate India rarely speaks ill of its peers, but there are suggestions that in this case Srinivasan, a successful corporate figure in Tamil Nadu, has trapped himself in an untenable situation. “As you rise in power, the standards of governance required by you have to go up,” says one leader. “The enormity of the situation is dependent on the person involved in a wrong doing.” It is why offences committed by the CEO of a firm as opposed to a junior-executive have a different impact. It is “logically impossible” for Srinivasan to “retain his authority when an investigation is on because he retains the power to subvert the process.”Srinivasan has, however, chosen to stay in power by deliberately detaching the administrative action required at a time like this from the Board and attaching it to the legal process. The BCCI has been unable to prevent him from doing so. Pai said, “By doing what he is doing Srinivasan has shown himself in poor light and BCCI has shown itself to be an institution of cronies.”Bringing out the “innocent till proven guilty” card often diverts from another vital truth. An individual remains accused until proven innocent.

Ashton Agar’s stay in India has been extended to take in Australia’s major warm-up for the Test series as the possibility grows that he may be in line for an extraordinary international debut in Chennai

Daniel Brettig15-Feb-2013Ashton Agar’s stay in India has been extended to take in Australia’s major warm-up for the Test series as the possibility grows that he may be in line for an extraordinary international debut in Chennai.Previously scheduled to depart for India once the full touring squad had assembled, Agar will now be playing the three-day match against India A beginning on Saturday, and may yet have his time on the subcontinent expanded to include the Tests.Agar is one of three spinners Australia will field in the practice game, Xavier Doherty and Nathan Lyon being the other two. Michael Clarke and David Warner will miss the match, following their recovery from injuries, to be ready for the first Test on February 22.Only 19 years old and having played just a pair of Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia following the shoulder injury to Michael Beer that ruled him out of this tour, Agar’s left-arm spin has stuck in the memory of all who have witnessed his bowling in recent weeks.His mature approach and skill in the field and with the bat has notably impressed the national selector John Inverarity, who is en route to India to discuss the composition of the team ahead of the first Test with the captain Michael Clarke and the coach Mickey Arthur.”The plan at the moment is that he returns in time to play for Western Australia but there is a possibility that he could stay a bit longer,” Inverarity told . “We needed someone to make up the XI and it was a very good opportunity to invest an opportunity in a promising young player.”Inverarity’s panel named numerous spin bowling options for the tour behind the incumbent Test tweaker Nathan Lyon, including the Tasmanian Xavier Doherty and the allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith. Agar lost little by comparison to his more experienced slow bowlers when he delivered eight overs during a two-day practice match earlier this week, and now has a further opportunity to usurp his seniors.”Ash bowled really well in the two-day game,” Clarke told . “Everyone knows he’s very talented. He’s had success for Western Australia [eight wickets at 30.12 in two matches].”I spent some time with him yesterday in the nets and tried to get him to watch some of the Indian spinners in the nets and see what he was learning from what they were doing. He’s going to be a very good bowler. He wants to learn – he wants to get better.”You never know what could happen. He’s very lucky now. He’s been given the opportunity to play in this three-dayer. We have Xavier Doherty, we have Nathan Lyon, we have Glenn Maxwell and we have Ashton Agar who all bowl spin. We want to make sure we’re doing everything in our power to make the right decision for the first Test.”In this there are parallels with Lyon, who was chosen for Australia’s Test side in Sri Lanka in 2011 after only a handful of Sheffield Shield appearances for South Australia, and to date has played more than half his 35 first-class matches at Test level. In the absence of outstanding spin bowling talent bolstered by experience, the selectors have been inclined to flights of fancy, of which Agar would be another.His spells for the Warriors against New South Wales on his Shield debut at Blacktown Oval were noteworthy against batsmen well versed in tackling spin, the wickets of Scott Henry and Peter Nevill gained through genuine turn and changes of pace.Agar’s Shield batting has also been useful, reaping one half-century and one other handy score in four innings so far. He went to India on the cricket equivalent of an internship, but is now a chance of making a most rapid graduation to full duties.’I wasn’t expecting too much at the start of the summer but it has all happened very quickly and it has turned into a bit of a dream,” Agar said. ”Michael Beer was bowling really well but he got injured. That gave me an opportunity to play for Western Australia, now to tour India for a week. It has been great.”

Real Madrid have been warned they must be cautious about signing a big name like Kylian Mbappe as the forward's arrival will not guarantee success.

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Madrid expected to sign MbappeWould be monumental transferClub warned to learn from 'mistakes'WHAT HAPPENED?

The Spanish giants are said to be closing in on a deal to land the French forward after he informed Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. His signing could mark a new Galactico era for Madrid, recreating the time they signed Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham together. However, ex-Madrid star Ivan Helguera has warned they could end up failing to live up to their potential.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT HELGUERA SAID

Helguera said at a La Liga and DAZN event: "It could be, what happens is that you have to see the mistakes that were made , there were many figures and very good players… but nothing was won. In Madrid it is important to win every year. It is wonderful to have all those players, but you have to know how to balance with a good squad. For Mbappe to come to Real Madrid would be an impressive signing and upwards it would be difficult to beat."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mbappe would be joining a a squad that already boasts the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, as well as veteran stars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Despite the quality at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal, the Santiago Bernabeu side failed to win La Liga or the Champions League last season.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MADRID?

The capital club are expected to seal the Spanish league title this season, and may also go on to claim their 15th European crown, while they work out a deal to bring Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window.

Barbados got their first win in the Regional Super50 tournament when they beat Guyana in a low-scoring match in Bridgetown

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2013
ScorecardBarbados got their first win of the tournament when they beat Guyana in a low-scoring match in Bridgetown. After dismissing Guyana for a paltry 111, Barbados reached the target in the 27th over, but after losing five wickets.Guyana were off to a slow start after being put in to bat. Their openers were dismissed within the span of three runs, by Jason Holder, and were 37 for 2. Leon Johnson and Assad Fudadin put on 44 for the third wicket and once their stand was broken, the Barbados bowlers ran through their line-up, taking their last seven wickets for 30 runs. Offspinner Ashley Nurse finished with career-best figures of 4 for 22 and pacers Holder and Chris Jordan shared five wickets.Chasing 112, Barbados lost their opener Kraigg Brathwaite in the fourth over and the next two batsmen within five balls, leaving them 30 for 3. Rashidi Boucher made 21 but was dismissed in the 10th over and became Paul Wintz’s third wicket. Jonathan Carter steered the innings from there, and even though they lost their fifth wicket in the 15th over, Carter and Shane Dowrich saw them home with a 50-run stand.

ESPNcricinfo previews the fourth Test between India and England in Nagpur

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan12-Dec-2012Match FactsDecember 13-17, Nagpur
Start time 9.30am (0400GMT)Tim Bresnan could be recalled by England if Steven Finn is ruled out of the final Test•AFPThe Big PictureThis could be a momentous Test match. From England’s point of view, a win or a draw would secure a series victory in India for the first time since 1984-85. For a new captain, Alastair Cook, that would be a herculean achievement, especially given the various issues he has had to deal with in the early months of his leadership.Then there is India. It would be foolish to write them off despite the margins of defeat in the last two matches, but there is a feeling of significant change being on the horizon. Although a series-levelling win could buy key figures some time, (despite papering over cracks being dangerous) it is not inconceivable that a series loss will see the end of MS Dhoni as captain, the end of Sachin Tendulkar and the end of Duncan Fletcher as coach. That ‘perfect storm’ scenario is unlikely, but even the fact it warrants discussion highlights India’s predicament.As has been the case ahead of each Test in this series, the pitch has been the focus of much attention although, sadly for comedic effect, there hasn’t been the sight of a groundsman being in the middle of a row. What do India think is best? England have shown over the last two matches that they are comfortable on a variety of surfaces. It was the slowest, lowest, pitch of series, in Ahmedabad, that caused them most problems.It’s a sign of the problems England have had in 2012 that defeat in this Test would make it the most losses they have suffered in a calendar year. However, some big lessons have been learned and there is a sense that the team is back on track. Finishing with a series win in India would be substantial proof of that.Form guide (Last five matches, most recent first)
India LLWWW
England WWLLDWatch out for…Test match No. 194 for Sachin Tendulkar. Could it be his last? Nobody knows what he is thinking about the future, but his powers are waning. There is a series against Australia next year, so maybe that will be time when he goes, but sooner rather than later the day will come for India. Does it need to be dragged out to a bitter end? This is not to say he can’t score runs – he fought doggedly for his 76 in Kolkata – but this is not the Sachin Tendulkar who has entertained the world for more than two decades.James Anderson produced one his finest overseas performances in Kolkata and even three wickets in each innings did not do justice to the skill he showed. He may well need a similar return in Nagpur and it is looking as though he’ll have an even greater burden on his shoulders after the emergence of Steven Finn’s injury. There is also the opportunity for one last duel with Tendulkar. The pair will not meet again at Test level.Team newsThere will be at least two changes for India after Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh were dropped, but such is the state of chaos around the team it is not clear which way they’ll go. It might be back to three frontline spinners, meaning a recall for Piyush Chawla, and Ajinkya Rahane, who averages 63.35 in first-class cricket, could debut at No. 6. The other options include Ravindra Jadeja as an allrounder at No. 6 with a balanced attack. Ashok Dinda and Parvinder Awana were both playing Ranji Trophy until yesterday so have not had much time with the squad.India (possible) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Virat Kohli, 6 Ajinkya Rahane, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Pragyan OjhaEngland have been hit by a significant blow with Finn suffering a back injury, which makes him very doubtful. Stuart Broad is ruled out, so Tim Bresnan appears favourite to replace him, despite a poor year in Test cricket, although Graham Onions would also have a strong case. There are suggestions that Samit Patel’s spot at No. 6 could go to Jonny Bairstow. Patel has not looked out of his depth, despite not converting starts into a substantial score, and it would be a harsh omission.England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Nick Compton, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Samit Patel, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Monty PanesarPitch and conditions”White and dry,” was the basic description of the pitch on the eve of the Test. It had not been watered for two days so it will spin, the question is how much and how soon. The weather won’t be an issue with daytime temperatures in the low 30s.Stats and trivia If Alastair Cook has another successful Test he could rise to the No. 1 batsman in Test cricket. England have not had the top-ranked batsman since Michael Vaughan in 2003. Only three England batsmen have scored four hundreds in a series – Herbert Sutcliffe (twice), Wally Hammond and Denis Compton Jason Krejza, the Australia offspinner, made his memorable (for right and wrong reasons) debut on this ground in 2008 ending with match figures of 12 for 358. Two years later, Dale Steyn took 7 for 51 after finding considerable reverse swing.Quotes”We have kept it really close, and the good thing is we are enjoying cricket, which at times you don’t tend to do when you go through a rough patch. When it comes to dressing-room atmosphere, it’s looking great.”
“Everyone knows how important this game is, but as a player you’ve got to take that emotion out of it. We’ve got to continue on the same path. We know how hard we’ve worked over these last couple of games, and we’ve got to do it again.”

Glamorgan’s County Championship Division Two clash with Yorkshire at Colwyn Bay was abandoned as a draw on Saturday with no play possible on any of the final three days.

09-Jun-2012
ScorecardGlamorgan’s County Championship Division Two clash with Yorkshire at Colwyn Bay was abandoned as a draw on Saturday with no play possible on any of the final three days.Umpires Mark Benson and Paul Baldwin called the game off at 9.15am with no prospect of play because of persistent rain which had left pools of water on the outfield. Yorkshire take four points from the contest to three for Glamorgan, who remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.There has been so much rain that Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 game between Glamorgan and Durham at the ground must be in doubt unless there is a dramatic change in the weather.

Australia piled on 482 runs on the first day in Adelaide, where Michael Clarke became the first player in Test history to score four double-centuries in a calendar year

The Report by Brydon Coverdale21-Nov-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Another day, another Michael Clarke double-century•Getty ImagesPwnage. That’s the only word for it. Either that or Michael Clarke has been playing in god mode. How else could one explain Clarke scoring his fourth Test double-century this year, a feat that nobody, not even Bradman, has ever achieved? How else could Australia have piled on 482 runs, the most they have managed in a day of Test cricket since 1910? But this was no video game. Graeme Smith couldn’t switch off and start over, no matter how much he wanted to.Clarke finished the afternoon unbeaten on 224. That’s two innings in this series for two double-hundreds. David Warner struck a highly entertaining 119 earlier in the day, at better than a run a ball. Michael Hussey scored his second consecutive century, an innings that ended only when he played on to Dale Steyn from what became the last ball of the day for 103. If that wasn’t enough for South Africa, they also spent most of the day one bowler short after Jacques Kallis left the field in the first session with a hamstring injury.Kallis was in his fourth over when he pulled up while running in to bowl. He already had two wickets. That Australia’s monumental performance came after they stumbled to 3 for 55 was remarkable enough, but the most notable aspect of their day was the rate at which they scored. They finished with a run-rate of 5.55. They struck 66 fours and nine sixes, helped by the short boundaries square of the wicket, but also by some insipid South African bowling, especially from the legspinner Imran Tahir.Tahir just couldn’t land the ball where he needed to. On the occasions that he did, he built no pressure because the next delivery was likely to give the batsman a release. He finished the day with 0 for 159 from 21 overs, reminiscent of Bryce McGain’s horrid analysis in his Cape Town debut in 2009. But one thing to say about McGain is that he didn’t once overstep; Tahir’s effort was punctuated by five no-balls, unforgivable for a slow bowler.Against Clarke, Hussey and Warner, he didn’t have a hope. The Australians racked up 202 runs in the final session. As stumps approached, Hussey brought up his hundred from his 122nd ball with a slog-swept six off Tahir; the previous delivery Clarke had reached his double-century from his 226th ball with a nudge behind square for a single. It was the 82nd over of the innings. Smith could have already taken the second new ball, but instead he took it in the next over. Go figure.It was one of those days where, after the first hour, nothing went right for South Africa. Steyn left the field with hamstring tightness, although he was at least able to return late in the day to remove Hussey. The prognosis for Kallis is unlikely to be good, and the South Africans had already lost Vernon Philander, who woke up with back soreness and was replaced in the line-up by Rory Kleinveldt.In truth, it didn’t much matter who was bowling, the way Clarke and Co were batting. Morne Morkel, who picked up two wickets earlier in the day, could not contain Clarke once he was well set. Clarke took 20 runs off one over from Morkel, driving down the ground, cutting hard, and bringing up his 150 with the fifth boundary from the over, a majestic straight drive. Clarke also pulled with confidence; after a couple of early bouncers rattled him, he was untroubled by the short stuff.South Africa created few opportunities as the day wore on. On 64, Hussey was given out caught behind off Morkel, but asked for a review and Hot Spot showed no touch on the bat, giving him a reprieve. On 73, Clarke had edged Kleinveldt, but the ball flew between the two slips. Nothing was going the South Africans’ way.The Clarke-Hussey partnership was worth 272. They had come together after Warner, on 119 from 112 balls, edged Morkel to slip. Warner had done his job. He brought up his century from 93 balls with a six and a four off Tahir, a clean drive back down the ground and over the rope, followed by a confident cover-drive through the gap.As he had done all innings, Warner trusted his attacking style, flashing at anything wide and enjoying the short square boundaries – he struck 16 fours. He also enjoyed some garbage from Tahir and Faf du Plessis straight after lunch, as both men sent down full tosses that he dispatched over the boundary. Those overs undid any of the pressure South Africa had built in the first session.Kallis had been very impressive with the ball during his short spell, removing Ed Cowan and Ricky Ponting by attacking the base of the stumps. On 10, Cowan was beaten by a Kallis yorker that struck him on the toe and at first appeared to have been given out lbw by Billy Bowden, but it later became apparent that he was caught and bowled. After the ball hit Cowan’s foot, it ballooned off the bat straight back to Kallis, and under the laws of the game, a catch takes precedence over lbw in deciding how a batsman has been dismissed.Kallis also accounted for Ponting with an outstanding delivery that was full and accurate, and swung away from the bat just enough to beat Ponting, who suffered the indignity not only of being bowled but of falling onto the pitch on his hands and knees after trying to keep the ball out. Ponting avoided another duck but only just – his only scoring shot was a clip for four off his pads.In between the dismissals of Cowan and Ponting, the No.3 Rob Quiney fell for an eight-ball duck when Morkel came around the wicket and forced Quiney to play a ball on off stump. Quiney’s edge was well snapped up by Smith at slip and after his 9 in his only innings at the Gabba, Quiney was left hoping desperately that he would get another chance in this, his second TestBut South Africa rued the loss of Kallis and Australia dominated the rest of the day. South Africa were pwned.

Alex Wakely and Rob Newton each scored half-centuries as Northamptonshire tightened their grip on Hampshire at the end of the third day at West End.

17-Aug-2012
ScorecardAlex Wakely and Rob Newton each scored half-centuries as Northamptonshire tightened their grip on Hampshire at the end of the third day at West End. Newton struck a rapid 59 and Wakely was 61 not out at the close as Northants reached 176 for 5 in their second innings, a lead of 256 runs.Only home captain Jimmy Adams batted with any resolution when Hampshire began the second day 125 for 2 in response to the Northants’ first-innings total of 356. Adams’ third-wicket partner Liam Dawson was out without adding to his overnight 19 and James Vince continued his wretched first-class season when he was out two overs later for 4.Pace bowler Luke Evans dismissed them both to leg-before decisions and then David Willey reduced Hampshire to 176 for 6 by bowling Sean Ervine and winning another lbw appeal against Adams, who faced 184 balls for his 73, an innings which included 13 fours, but resistance after his departure was only sporadic.Evans came back to get rid of Chris Wood and Northants captain Andrew Hall polished off the Hampshire tail. Hall had Michael Bates caught at second slip by David Sales for 28, Kabir Ali caught at the wicket for a breezy 31 and then last man David Balcombe at 276. That gave Northants a substantial first-innings lead of 80 on a wicket which continued to help the quicker bowlers.Hall finished with 3 for 35, but for former Durham bowler Evans the day was a personal triumph, finishing with career-best figures of 4 for 38.Northants did not make the best of starts as they hastened to build on their first-innings success with Stephen Peters out in Ali’s first over and Niall O’Brien following to a catch at the wicket in the eighth. When Sales fell to a catch by Vince in the slips off Balcombe, Northants were 62 for 3. But then came a decisive stand of 99 in only 16 overs between Newton and Wakely as the Hampshire attack appeared to run out of ideas.Newton hit Ali for six and then did the same to successive deliveries from James Tomlinson, smiting nine fours also from 41-ball innings which turned the match in Northants’ favour. Tomlinson had Newton caught in the slips before Hall departed, but Wakely and James Middlebrook saw their side through to stumps in an unbroken stand of 15.