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Scorecard

Jimmy Maher doesn’t try to restrain himself as he reaches an important double-century © Getty Images

Jimmy Maher posted his highest first-class score and Martin Love nailed his fourth century in a final as Queensland tightened their grip on the Pura Cup at the Gabba. On a tremendous third day for the Bulls and an awful one for Victoria, the home side lost only two wickets – Maher for 223 and Love for 169 – to go to stumps preparing their victory speech at 3 for 584.A 297-run partnership between Maher and Love, the former state junior team-mates, set up the Bulls’ ride in a five-day match they have only to draw to end their three-year sequence of finishing second. Maher, who has been inspired by the victims of Cyclone Larry in north Queensland, brought up his double-century a ball after Love reached three figures shortly before lunch and enjoyed an animated celebration.Maher went on to beat his 217 for Glamorgan in 2001 before edging Mick Lewis, who had figures of 1 for 125, and leaving with 29 fours from his 385 balls. Queensland were in extreme comfort at 2 for 454, but they added 71 more through Shane Watson and Love, whose only error came when he hit a catch to Nathan Pilon off Nick Jewell from his 291st delivery.Queensland were forced to field for three days against Victoria in the 2003-04 final when the hosts scored 710, and the home side was intent on delaying their opponents for as long as possible. Watson was unbeaten on 73 and Clint Perren reached 24, with the state’s highest score of 687 against New South Wales in 1930-31 approaching.”I wasn’t thinking of pulling out at 711, put it that way,” Maher told . “That day we got hammered into the ground. Let me put it this way – I’ve got a pretty good memory. In saying that we want to win the game outright.”

The new Zimbabwe logo: not as innocent as it seems?© Zimbabwe Cricket

Daily life in Zimbabwe throws up some bizarre stories, but few as odd as the one doing the rounds this week concerning the Zimbabwe Cricket Union’s new logo.Introduced in November as part of a brand re-launch, the new logo has apparently attracted the attention of the government’s infamous Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) who, so the reports go, held an investigation into a possible hidden agenda.The logo appears harmless at first glance, featuring three stumps, a white line (representing a boundary line) on a green background, and a cricket ball. But that innocence was lost on the CIO which saw more in the emblem than most. Instead of three stumps, it saw a letter M; the cricket ball became a D; and the boundary line became a C. That spelt out the initials of the Movement for Democratic Change, Zimbabwe’s major opposition party.A source close to the ZCU told Cricinfo that the matter had been raised at a board meeting although that was categorically denied by Lovemore Banda, the ZCU’s media manager. It is inconceivable that the ZCU (patron, Robert Mugabe) would in any way be linked with such a potentially embarrassing situation. It is probably more an indication of how paranoid the authorities have become about anyone opposing the government.But the incident has a darker side. A former Zimbabwe Cricket employee told Cricinfo how he was nearly beaten up by ruling ZANU PF supporters when he was spotted wearing a Zimbabwe one-day replica shirt with the new logo. The supporters asked him why he was wearing an MDC T-shirt and he had to do some fast-talking to avoid being attacked. He said that the situation was inflamed by the colour of the T-shirt. Red is synonymous with the MDC.

Scorecard

Shivnarine Chanderpaul: his first double hundred © Getty Images

A record-breaking partnership between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs put the West Indians in a commanding position of their match against Free State at the end of the second day’s play at Bloemfontein. The West Indians were finally dismissed for a daunting 618, and then in the final three overs of the day reduced Free State to 3 for 2.Chanderpaul smashed 245 and Jacobs 149 as they took their stand to 359, breaking the first-class record in South Africa for the fifth wicket of 342, held by Eric Rowan and Paul Gibb for Transvaal against North-Eastern Transvaal in 1951-52.Free State’s second-string attack toiled for almost two sessions without a breakthrough as Chanderpaul and Jacobs cut loose, and when Wycliffe Deacon finally trapped Jacobs leg-before, it was the first wicket in over day. From then on in the bowlers had a better time as the West Indians lost their last five wickets for 29 runs as they pushed for quick runs.Free State were left with a tricky three overs to face, and within nine balls they were two wickets down as Jonathan Beukes and Rayno Arendse were both dismissed.

New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns might miss tomorrow’s day-night cricket match against Australia at the MCG because of concerns about a back injury.The home side, which would almost certainly drop out of finals contention in the tri series with a loss, will bring in paceman Brett Lee and allrounder Ian Harvey for Jason Gillespie and Andrew Symonds.Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming said Cairns was receiving intensive physiotherapy today on a disc problem.The Kiwis will either rest or play their star player, rather than use him as a specialist batsman.”He’s probably ginger, would be the best word to describe it, certainly backing up yesterday was a tough ask and he probably suffered a little bit with his bowling,” Fleming said.”We’ll be cautious with him, while there’s 24 hours to starting time I’m not willing to commit whether he’ll be playing or not.”There’s work to be done and time to be taken – we’ll use it.”When asked whether Cairns needed rest, Fleming replied “absolutely”, but added the issue was when he should take some time out.Had New Zealand beaten South Africa last night in Adelaide, Cairns would definitely miss tomorrow’s match.Fleming said his side would be “conservative” with its selection tomorrow, but indicated Dion Nash would probably return.Australia will go into tomorrow’s match on the bottom of the series table behind the competition-leading Kiwis and South Africa.Each side has two matches to play before the finals start here on February 6.Australian captain Steve Waugh and his team-mates had last night off to refresh after Saturday’s 77-run loss to New Zealand in Adelaide.Waugh said he was impressed with this morning’s team meeting and a spirited training session at the MCG, promising a much better effort tomorrow against theKiwis.Keen to tone down constant debate about why the team is not playing well, Waugh also played down the significance of the team changes.”It’s just a matter of picking the side, I don’t want to get too complicated in it – alternative rotation, alternative injury, alternative form thing – we’re just picking 11 players, we’ll keep it simple,” Waugh said.Harvey has played only two of Australia’s matches in this series, but Waugh said the talent known as “Freak” had the potential to belong at this level.”He’s just got to back his ability – he’s a great player and a great talent,” Waugh said.”There’s no reason he shouldn’t do well at this level, his bowling has been excellent over the last 12-18 months and he’s done some good things with the bat.”Waugh is confident the out-of-sorts Australians can regain their touch tomorrow and still make the finals.”We know we can turn it around, you’ll see a side out there tomorrow desperate to win, but relaxed as well and confident in its ability,” Waugh said.”If we don’t win tomorrow, we’re not good enough – I can accept that as long as we go out there fighting and playing hard.”I don’t mind losing as we go down to the wire.”Squads:Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Adam Gilchrist, Ian Harvey, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Glen McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne,Mark Waugh. Jason Gillespie or Andrew Symonds 12th man.New Zealand from: Stephen Fleming (capt), Andre Adams, Shane Bond, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, James Franklin, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, CraigMcMillan, Dion Nash, Adam Parore, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent (team, 12th man to be named).

Yesterday when the West Zone side were defending a smallish totalagainst East Zone, they opted to shuffle their bowling line up andopened with off spinner Sonali Chandok. That paid rich dividends.Extending the thinking to today’s game, West Zone opened the battingwith Arti Vaidya and Amrutha Shinde. Amrutha batted in the middleorder in the previous game and did not make too many runs. However,Amrutha played the sheet anchor role to perfection against South Zone,carrying her bat through the innings. In the company of her captain,Kalyani, who also picked up a half century she took West Zone to acomfortable eight wicket victory.West Zone’s second match in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi Trophy 2000 atthe Chemplast IIT stadium got off to a less than ideal start when theylost the toss to the South Zone team. The South Zone captain Lakshmihad no hesitation in electing to bat. The conditions were ideal forbatting with the ball coming on to the bat nicely. The fact that theoutfield was perfectly green and trimmed made it lightning fast.Opening the bowling, skipper Kalyani and Neelima bowled an impeccableline and length. Keeping the ball just short of a length and outsidethe off stump in the area Geoff Boycott calls the ‘corridor ofuncertainty’ the two medium pacers choked the South Zone openers. BothHamsavalli and Karuna Jain struggled to rotate the strike. Hamsavalliin particular struggled, playing over 20 balls before she could getoff the mark. At the end of 15 overs, South could manage just 22runs. Trying to push the scoring rate to something approaching whatwould be competitive, Hamsavalli fell being stumped by ‘keeperSulakshana Naik off the bowling of Amrutha Shinde. Lured out by theteasing loop of the spinner, Hamsavalli was beaten both in the air andoff the wicket. Her slow innings of 38 balls yielded just seven runs.Harsha Harinarayan came in at the fall of the first wicket and did notlast long. Attempting to heave Nilima through the off side, Harshaended up dragging the ball back onto her stumps.Neelima had completed her 10 overs, bowling them on the trot. Sheended with the impeccable figures of 10-3-17-1, picking up her onlywicket in the last over of her spell. Bowling with good pacethroughout her long spell, Neelima wholly deserved the wicket shepicked. With luck on her side, she could easily have had anotherwicket to her name. In the 17th over, Sonali Chandok standing at slipgrassed a chance that should have been taken. This let Harsha off thehook, but fortunately for West Zone, she was dismissed soon after.A period of increased run scoring ensued after the 30th over. VanitaViola played a few more shots than her team mates had, stroking theball nicely through the off side. When the loose ball was on offer shewas quick to capitalise, working it away into the outfield forruns. Vanita looked the most comfortable of the South Zone batswomen.However, as the slog overs neared, the South Zone batswomen attemptedmore and more big shots, with very limited success. Having opened thebowling in her first game, off spinner Sonali Chandok played a verydifferent role against South Zone. She was introduced late in theinnings and bowled through to the close. Giving the ball a lot ofair, she enticed the South Zone batsmen into false shots as theyattempted to swing her over the onside field. Wickets fell at regularintervals and at the end of 50 overs South Zone had 137/9 on theboard.Even senior Indian men’s cricketers have found it difficult to playthe role of sheet anchor. They get bogged down and often are unable torotate the strike. Amrutha on the other hand had no suchtrouble. Picking ones and twos at will she shut out the South Zoneteam completely. At the other end, her captain responded to situationin fine style. Playing the bowling on merit, Kalyani Umarani realisedthere was no hurry. When the ball was up for the shot, Kalyani plantedher front foot down the wicket and swung the ball effortlessly throughthe on side.It was fitting that Kalyani brought up her fifty in what turned out tobe the last ball of the innings. The single that brought up her fiftyalso took West Zone to a comprehensive eight wicket victory.At the end of the day, Amrutha Shinde was unbeaten on 59 while thecaptain Kalyani had scored exactly 50. Yesterday it was the same pairthat got the runs, with 29 and 20 respectively.West Zone have now won two out of two matches. Air India have alsodone the same. As the tournament progresses, the competition isheating up. West Zone are showing that they are one of the primecontenders for the trophy.

A big Rangers claim has been made regarding the fitness of on-loan Ibrox midfielder Aaron Ramsey and whether he’ll play again soon for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

What’s the latest?

A pundit has reacted to the Welshman reportedly paying £30k to bring specialists in to work with him in Glasgow.

Danny Mills has explained what this course of action means for his intentions for the rest of the 2021/22 Premiership campaign.

He told Football Insider: “He’s doing everything he possibly can to get fully fit. Sometimes a physio who knows the injury and knows the player is beneficial.

“He’s not being disrespectful to the Rangers medical staff, he’s got a long-term issue that they have dealt with a long time. They know what it is and, hopefully, know how to treat it.

“He’ll work in the conjunction with them and the Rangers staff. If he is prepared to do that, good on him. He clearly wants to be fit and wants to play.”

He’s season-defining

Specialist treatment for Ramsey right now will surely come as a huge boost to Rangers because it likely means he’ll be fit to return sooner rather than later.

That eventually is something that will undoubtedly leave van Bronckhorst feeling elated, primarily because it shows a strong desire from Ramsey to make this transfer work.

The additional effort he is putting in to get himself back in shape shows that he is not in Glasgow to collect his wages, have some time away from Italy, and then head back to Juventus in the summer.

He wants to play football and he wants to have an impact on the pitch for the Gers, which is highlighted by these quotes from Mills and his actions over the past week or so.

Ramsey’s career statistics suggest that he will be a major player for Rangers if he is able to rediscover his fitness and thus, the idea that he’s doing all he can to return as soon as possible could be a season-defining one in the race for the Premiership.

After all, if he finds his top form, they’ll have one of the best players in the league on their hands. He managed an impressive 130 direct goal contributions across 371 competitive matches for Arsenal throughout his career, with former Gunners centre-back Per Mertesacker dubbing him a “maestro”, before producing 12 in 70 for Juventus.

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The Wales international has been able to deliver quality at the top level over the course of a number of years and this evidence illustrates the potential impact he can have on the Scottish giants. This is another reason why van Bronckhorst will be buzzing with his attempts to resolve his injury issues.

Having another player with the quality to score and create goals on a regular basis will surely only be a positive for Rangers, as it increases their chances of winning games by finding the back of the net more regularly. Hopefully, Ramsey’s work will pay off and he will turn out to be the player his reputation paints him to be.

AND in other news, 7 G/A in 4 starts: Wilson made huge Rangers blunder on “groundbreaking” £6.3m gem…

There are three candidates seeking to become the new USACA president in elections set to take place on March 29.A list of all candidates for the various executive posts, including secretary, treasurer, and vice presidents, was announced by USACA after the vetting processes required under the new constitution were completed.As expected, Gladstone Dainty will be seeking re-election as president, and he faces a strong challenge from Ram Varadarajan. A third candidate, Kamran Khan, a former USACA president and captain of the US side, is also standing.The main battles for the other posts are between existing USACA officials and those who have lined up on Varadarajan’s ticket.Click here for a full list of candidates

Shaun Tait gets his third wicket by forcing an edge from Paul Collingwood © Getty Images

There are two reasons why Australia and New Zealand are among the runaway favourites for this World Cup. Firstly, both teams just keep on winning; secondly, they refuse to let little issues like injuries to key players get in the way of their momentum.When Brett Lee went over on his ankle during a practice session in New Zealand in February, it was widely assumed that Australia’s best hope of a third successive World Cup had gone with him. But into the breach stepped the raw gunslinger, Shaun Tait, whose Man-of-the-Match award against England represented a notable coming-of-age.Two years ago, Tait was flung in at the deep end for the pivotal fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge after an elbow injury had laid Glenn McGrath low. But none of the callow youthfulness he displayed then was on show in Antigua. Touching 94mph in a venomous new-ball spell, he beat both Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss for pace, then returned in the final Powerplay to extract Paul Collingwood before he had time to settle.Eyebrows were raised when Tait was named as Lee’s replacement as Australia’s strike-bowling option. He didn’t exactly set the world alight on his one-day debut at Sydney in January, finishing with two expensive wickets as England won the match that began their CB Series comeback, and by the time of his first World Cup outing against Scotland in Basseterre, he had mustered just five wickets in four outings, three of which had ended in defeat.Since then he has been a revelation, bagging 11 wickets in six matches, and improving his pace and direction with each match. “I’d been a bit disappointed throughout the tournament with my first few overs of every game,” Tait said. “I haven’t been hitting my straps quite like I should be. So today I just brought my lengths back a bit and bashed on the wicket a bit more. I bowled a lot straighter and controlled it a lot better.””He’s been taking wickets in every game, which is great,” the captain Ricky Ponting said. “The pleasing thing is he took a look at his bowling and found an area where he could change things a little bit. It’s great to see younger guys working on their games, and then getting some results out of it. Shaun did a terrific job, bowling through the middle of the innings.”Tait’s success, coupled with the impending retirement of McGrath, raises the intriguing prospect of both he and Lee tearing in during future Australian one-day games. “I’d love to have both guys in my team if they are going as well as they can,” Ponting said. “Brett’s got away from the out-and-out strike bowler he’s always labelled as – Taity is that for us at the moment.”The more he plays the more he’ll understand the ways to go about bowling in different conditions. Brett’s a bit more advanced and he understands his game very well. He takes wickets but he doesn’t go for runs, which was something that always plagued him early in his career. He’s been the best bowler in the world in one-day international cricket.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Upul Tharanga rose to the ocassion and completed his maiden ton © AFP

Upul Tharanga starred with a career-best 160 not out, his maiden Test century and highest first-class score, to revive a Sri Lanka innings that was in a parlous state in the morning. Batting throughout the day, Tharanga battled hard, as Sri Lanka closed on 302 for 8, a lead of 68 runs.Tharanga’s fine knock, a mixture of studious defence and adventure, saved Sri Lanka from potential embarrassment as they slumped to 43 for 4. First, he consolidated the innings in partnership with Mahela Jayawardene (49), settling dressing-room nerves as they added 124 runs, before carrying Sri Lanka to first-innings parity with Tillakaratne Dilshan (33).But once again, when a run fest had beckoned after Muttiah Muralitharan’s first-day wizardry, Bangladesh displayed resilience and a never-say-die spirit. Perhaps, with hindsight, they might rue not being more aggressive in the first session, but they could not be faulted for application or effort.Shahadat Hossain epitomised this spirit with intense bursts throughout the day. In the first Test he mopped up the Sri Lanka tail with a series of bumpers and here he shook up the top order as Thilan Samaraweera (20) feathered a catch behind off a rising ball and Kumar Sangakkara (0) departed first ball to an lbw shocker.Later on, too, as Sri Lanka eyed a commanding lead after the tea interval, Bangladesh came back strongly, this time through their spinners as Mohammad Rafique hurried an arm through Dilshan and Enamul Haque snapped up both Farveez Maharoof (7) and Dilhara Fernando to leave Sri Lanka on 263 for 8.Sri Lanka, though, finished strongly with an obstinate stand between Tharanga and Lasith Malinga, who batted responsibly in his newly-promoted position of No.9, hanging in for 64 balls for his 12 not out. The pair added 39 in the final hour, tipping the match towards Sri Lanka as their lead reached handy proportions.However, Bangladesh are by no means out of the fight yet. Should they clean up the tail on the third morning then they are still in the game. The question is whether they can deliver in the second innings as the pressure intensifies – if they can then Sri Lanka will be left with a tricky run chase.

Thilan Samaraweera c Mashud b Hossain 20 (43 for 3)
Kumar Sangakkara lbw Hossain 0 (43 for 4)
Mahela Jayawardene c Rahim b Ashraful 49 (167 for 5)
Tillakaratne Dilshan b Rafique 33 (232 for 6)
Farveez Maharoof c Mashud b Haque 7 (251 for 7)
Dilhara Fernando lbw Haque (263 for 8)

South Africa 340 for 3 dec (Smith 131, de Villiers 98) beat Zimbabwe 54 (Kallis 4-13) and 265 (Ebrahim 72, Blignaut 61, Boje 4-106) by an innings and 21 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Dion Ebrahim hooks on his way to 72© Getty Images

Zimbabwe batted better than they had on that terrible first day, but they still proved unequal to the task and succumbed to an embarrassing defeat inside two days at Newlands. They were bowled out in their second innings for 265, to go down by an innings and 21 runs, despite some late fireworks from Andy Blignaut which threatened to make South Africa bat again.Matters had returned to something like normal in the morning session, as the batsmen hopped obediently into line and played patiently on a good batting pitch. Only two wickets went down before lunch, and only one more in the first hour afterwards – but the afternoon drinks interval obviously served up something surprising, as four quick wickets tumbled, including the top-scorer Dion Ebrahim for 72, to put the skids under Zimbabwe.The lunch score of 95 for 2 would have been an ideal start on the first day of a Test. The trouble was that after yesterday’s nightmarish performance, when Zimbabwe were shot out for 54, they were already firmly behind the eight-ball. Graeme Smith surprised some by declaring at the overnight total of 340 for 3, setting a daunting target of 286 just to avoid an innings defeat.The openers immediately looked more at home than on the first day, when lack of footwork betrayed batsman after batsman as the ball moved around more. Stuart Matsikenyeri, the only man to reach double figures yesterday, got the ball rolling with a single off Shaun Pollock, then settled his nerves by thick-edging Makhaya Ntini for a four over gully. He had advanced to 13 when he fended a short one from Ntini low to Jacques Rudolph at short leg (25 for 1).Still the floodgates remained resolutely closed. Ebrahim’s defensive game is ideally suited to a rearguard, and he dug in doggedly. He did pop up one hook, but mistimed it so badly that it plopped to earth well short of the deep fielder. He lost Barney Rogers, the other opener, when he wafted through to Mark Boucher after battling to 28 (59 for 2). It was a second wicket for the impressive Ntini, who toiled through an initial ten-over spell on a steaming-hot day.

Not this time … Makhaya Ntini appeals unsuccessfully for an lbw© Getty Images

Ebrahim then put on 98 with Hamilton Masakadza, who played sensibly for 46. But he became tied down as he approached his half-century, and after living dangerously against Nicky Boje he finally cut him uppishly to Herschelle Gibbs at backward point (157 for 3).It was now that Zimbabwe’s resolve weakened. Brendan Taylor got underneath an attempted lofted drive off Boje and spooned it high over mid-off, where Charl Langeveldt clung on to a swirler (173 for 4). Tatenda Taibu survived a confident appeal for caught-behind off Langeveldt – the umpire Billy Doctrove was unsighted as ball brushed glove on the way through – but he didn’t last much longer, pulling Langeveldt to be well caught low down at midwicket by the exotically named substitute Waylain September (183 for 5).Three runs later Elton Chigumbura was gone too, for a duck, missing a well-flighted delivery from Boje that gripped a little and knocked back his off stump. And next ball Ebrahim’s long vigil ended, on the point of tea. After scoring 72 in 202 minutes and 153 balls, with ten fours, he misjudged an inducker from Langeveldt, played no stroke, and swished his bat in frustration when Doctrove raised the finger (186 for 7).Heath Streak departed for 12, perhaps wondering if his much-publicised return to Test cricket was such a good idea, but his fellow returnee Blignaut injected some fun into the last rites by blasting 22 off one over from Boje, including three sixes, one of which landed on the railway line outside the ground. In all he smashed six sixes, five of them in a 39-ball half-century. But the fun couldn’t last: first Graeme Cremer was run out, and finally Blignaut was stumped attempting more violence off Boje, whose figures he had rather ruined.Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe’s ever-enthusiastic captain, had to admit last night that it was “the worst day since I started playing for Zimbabwe”. Today was a little better – but not much. It was the first two-day Test since Australia humbled Pakistan at Sharjah in October 2002, and even that game never descended into the farce that was the first afternoon here, when South Africa piled on 249 runs in 33 overs that resembled a prep-school Fathers’ Match more than it did a Test. Those worried about Zimbabwe’s suitability for international cricket might have been a little less outspoken today, but they won’t go away.Steven Lynch is the editor of Cricinfo.