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South Africa 417 and 199 for 3 (Amla 64*, Kallis 60*)beat Pakistan 313 and 302 (Farhat 68, Nazir 40) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out – Pakistan
How they were out – South Africa

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis staved off any threat from Pakistan to ease South Africa to victory in the first Test. Proceedings today weren’t about entertainment for the hosts – ironically Pakistan ‘s exciting and explosive batting of yesterday had put paid to that – they were just about getting the job done. In the end, a convincing victory came easily, by seven wickets, thanks to the pair’s unbroken stand of 119.Kallis’s efforts in particular would have made the most clinical of surgeons proud. He delivered a series of calm, precise dissections of the field, his soft hands delicately cutting into Pakistan’s morale.His were just small, neat cuts but they were enough to do the damage. He was in control from the moment he arrived at the crease, early in the opening session, following Harris’s uppish drive off Mohammad Asif to covers where Faisal Iqbal snapped up a tidy low catch.Amla didn’t exactly do a hatchet job, either, although Kaneria stitched him up twice in the first over and later he prodded the odd nick in front of gully. He also stabbed a leading edge which popped back just short of Kaneria. But he continued to play watchfully, grew in stature, and picked off the singles as South Africa solidified their position.The visitors looked to Kaneria’s wrist to provide the threat on a wearing pitch, but although he found turn and landed the ball in the right areas, Amla and Kallis played him well. Asif tired towards the end of his morning spell, allowing a host of no-balls to creep in. His lacklustre efforts were matched by Pakistan’s fielding, allowing precious singles to slip through their fingers.The nightwatchman Harris was the only faller in a rain-truncated morning session and his departure merely opened the way for a calm Kallis to join Amla in chipping away at the target. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was brought into the attack after lunch, and though he found a touch of reverse, he couldn’t find the edge and the South African pair continued serenely on their way.They each reached their half-centuries with ease and, by the middle of the afternoon, victory was sewn up, eventually with just as much ease.

Abdul Rehman, Habib Bank’s left-hand allrounder, returned career-best bowling figures of 6 for 28, as Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) crashed to a nine-wicket defeat on the third day of the second-round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex at Karachi.The game seemed to be ambling along even after Habib Bank had taken a first-innings lead of 90, having replied with 337 yesterday. But, in their second outing, KRL were simply decimated by Rehman’s slow left-arm and managed a poor 132 all out.Needing only 43 to win, Habib Bank got there in nine overs for the loss of one wicket and completed an emphatic triumph with a full day to spare, something that must have left them a bit surprised.Rehman, 25, picked up a match haul of 11 for 148, taking ten or more in a first-class encounter for the first time in his career. A third-wicket partnership between Mohammad Wasim (35), the captain, and Ali Naqvi (30), also a former Pakistan opener, yielded 53 runs before Rehman returned to spin a web around the batting order. Eight wickets fell for the addition of only a further 62 runs, as only two other batsmen managed to get into double figures. Although he finished on the losing side, Naqvi made valuable scores of 74 and 30 in the match in addition to taking 4 for 47 with his medium-pace in Habib Bank’s first innings.Earlier, Farhan Adil, resuming at his overnight 73, was dismissed after making 85 off 165 balls. Rehman then showed his batting prowess with a quick 37 in just short of an hour and a half with four fours and a six.In their first-round match habib Bank, the record seven-time Patron’s Trophy winners, claimed the three first innings points from a draw against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Pakistan Customs took six points in their win over KRL, after the latter had earlier attained the first innings lead.Wasim Khan, the fast bowler, finished with 12 wickets in the match as National Bank raced to a big 10-wicket victory over Service Industries, on the third day of their Patron’s Trophy clash at the Sheikhupura Stadium. Resuming at their overnight 90 for 5, Service Industries required another 75 runs to avert an innings debacle. They just managed to do that, but were bowled out for 176, leaving National Bank with just 13 to win – a target achieved in just 11 balls.National Bank have won the Patron’s Trophy title five times, while Service Industries qualified for this season’s first-class circuit after having won the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II tournament of 2004-05. They were beaten by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) in their first-round Group B encounter.Earlier, Farhan Asghar, the Service wicketkeeper, fought well with an unbeaten 75, including 13 boundaries. His sixth-wicket partnership with Mustansar Ali produced 82, but the end for his team was not far. Khan’s 6 for 73 in the second innings gave him match figures of 12 for 111.Although Pakistan Customs replied to the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) total of 498 with courage, they were still 261 behind as the third day of their Patron’s Trophy match came to a close, at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex Ground No.1 at Karachi. However, even with a score of 237 for 6, Customs needed to reach a tally of 348 to avoid the follow-on. But, with only more day to play in the match, unless something dramatic happens on Monday it appears to be heading for a draw.SNGPL, who may now only be looking towards getting the three first innings lead points, failed to add to their overnight 498 for eight — which they had compiled over the full first two days — and lost the remaining two wickets in the one over bowled early yesterday.Customs were off to a sound start with Kashif Siddiq (66) and Hasnain Abbas (59) adding 98 runs together. The score was 147 for 1, when the next four wickets managed to add just a further 33 runs. The in-form Afsar Nawaz and Sajid Ali, the veteran, perished without scoring. Imran Khalid, Faisalabad’s slow left-armer, bagged three wickets and Mahmood Malik two with his fast-medium pacers. Fawad Alam, the teenaged left-hander, is still at the crease having scored an unbeaten 45.In their first-round match of the tournament, Customs had started by beating KRL although they collected only six points instead of the full nine as they had earlier surrendered the first innings lead. SNGPL did not have a match to play in the previous round.A second career hundred from Zulqarnain Haider, the PTCL wicketkeeper, extended his team’s first-innings lead over Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), on the third day of their second-round Patron’s Trophy match, at the Iqbal Stadium at Faisalabad. Starting the day yesterday at 265 for 6, six runs ahead of ZTBL’s 259, PTCL took their total to 379, an overall advantage of 120. By the day’s close, ZTBL had scored 104 for 2 in their second innings.Zulqarnain, 19, hit a fine 102 while assisting Aamer Bashir, his captain, in a 116 run fourth-wicket stand on Saturday. Yesterday, he helped Tahir Mughal in another useful partnership of 52 for the seventh wicket. Tahir later went on score a valuable 70 off 112 balls with seven boundaries. ZTBL’s most successful bowler was Naeem Anjum, the slow left-arm bowler, who captured five for 122 runs in 37.3 overs.ZTBL, who have won the Patron’s Trophy title four times, were beaten by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), 2003-04 runners-up, in the first round. PTCL, however, took six points from their win over Service Industries in their opening game.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

An exhibition of batting had been expected on the third day. Instead, India set a pattern of excessive caution early on, and their laboured approach lulled the large Eden Gardens crowd into a stupor. Bursts of activity punctuated the dreary proceedings but, each time the contest appeared to come to life, the teams’ limitations became more obvious – neither side had the resources to exploit the other’s weaknesses. Only after India acquired the lead was the action sustained. They ended the day 54 runs ahead, on 359 for 6.South Africa were disciplined, rather than lethal, in their approach and gave away only 230 runs in the day. But they lacked the bowlers to knock India over after the top order had gone. When VVS Laxman departed after securing the lead, South Africa were only three runs behind. However, the lower order once again put on a show of strength. Dinesh Karthik and Irfan Pathan began slowly, but steadily gained momentum to build India’s lead.Proceedings were largely controlled by the bowlers. They absorbed the impact of an early-morning assault – as Rahul Dravid pulled and pushed fours and Virender Sehwag struck a blow into the stands at long-on – and stuck to their task.The story goes that when Ray Jennings, South Africa’s new coach, was asked what his plan for Sehwag was, he jovially announced that it involved shooting him at the hotel. But the real plan – one that worked out – was rather more legal, and just as threatening. Makhaya Ntini, delivering from wide of the stumps, got one to bounce at Sehwag’s face, and it looped off his glove to Graeme Smith, who ran in from first slip and took the catch (144 for 2).

Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar then displayed a lot of self-control. They set out to wear down South Africa’s new-ball attack, before turning their attention to the back-up bowlers. As a result, the scoring came to a standstill for much of the morning, and a repeat of the dour batting that has plagued this series was on display once again. But the approach failed, for Tendulkar (20), rendered almost strokeless by his own restraint, pushed down the wrong line and dragged Zander de Bruyn into his stumps (189 for 3).At the other end Dravid, past 50, cut loose for a brief while after lunch, and then inexplicably shut up shop again until he played yet another incoming delivery onto his stumps (238 for 4). Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly did not potter around. He repeatedly attempted to pierce the off-side field, but a battery of fielders intercepted his searing strokes. When the bowlers strayed to leg, he pulled and edged them to the fence. He targeted Justin Ontong’s loopy offerings, making room to drive through cover. But just as his innings began to flourish, it ended. de Bruyn pitched one outside leg which hit Ganguly’s pad – also outside leg – and the ensuing appeal was upheld by Simon Taufel (267 for 5).Laxman’s dig was a ditty, and there were signs that his star was in the ascendancy. But after taking India ahead he perished to his own impertinence. After stroking sparkling boundaries, he cut an Ntini delivery that had pitched too far up, and presented Ontong with a simple catch at point (308 for 6). Gradually, the tide turned India’s way.Two days now remain, and the batting runs deep on both sides. A result is still possible, for the will to win remains evident. All we need is for that will to be backed by suitable firepower.

16.3 overs England 81 for 4 (McGrath 15*, Vaughan 35*) v Zimbabwe: match abandonedOn a day of frustration, with bad weather postponing the start until 3.50pm, Headingley was briefly given a taste of the Twenty20 Cup – or Twentyfive25 to be precise. But after a futile attempt to defy the elements, the match was called off in the 17th over of England’s effort, just as the local boys Michael Vaughan and Anthony McGrath were repairing a dreadful start to the innings. The competition rules state that no contest can take place over less than 25 overs a side, so even the briefest of interruptions would have been curtains.After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, England slumped to 32 for 4 in typically zippy Headingley conditions, including three in the space of eight deliveries, before Vaughan and McGrath added 49 for the fifth wicket to save their blushes. Vaughan, who by the close was batting as fluently as he has all summer, was disappointed to be forced off by the umpires, shortly after turning down an offer for bad light. But after the start England had made, he was probably secretly quite pleased.In England’s previous match, against South Africa at The Oval, Vikram Solanki and Marcus Trescothick had added 200 for the first wicket. This time, however, they lasted three overs between them. Heath Streak, finding the perfect line and a hint of movement, dismissed them both in his second over, thanks to a pair of blinding catches from Grant Flower.First to go was Solanki, who had launched one fleet-footed drive over the covers off Doug Hondo, but then attempted to work Streak through the leg side and skewed a thick edge to Flower in the gully for 8 (11 for 1). And then, four balls later, Trescothick attempted to cut a wide delivery that seamed back towards him, and Flower again scooped a brilliant low chance to his right (12 for 2).Chris Read had been an unlikely choice as a pinch-hitter, but he lasted all of four deliveries. He pushed Hondo towards mid-on and hared off for a quick single, but Gary Brent swooped and pinged down the stumps at the non-striker’s end (13 for 3).Andrew Flintoff and Vaughan attempted to repair the damage, although with the ball moving every which way but loose, batting was a real struggle. Vaughan, on 11, came perilously close to being nailed lbw by Streak, but the next man to fall was Flintoff, who pulled Andy Blignaut towards the boundary, but only managed to swat him down the throat of Travis Friend at midwicket (32 for 4).Slowly but surely, England steadied the ship, and were looking set for a competitive total when the heavens opened once again.England 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Vikram Solanki, 3 Michael Vaughan, 4 Andrew Flintoff, 5 Anthony McGrath, 6 Jim Troughton, 7 Chris Read, 8 Kabir Ali, 9 Richard Johnson, 10 Darren Gough, 11 James Anderson.Zimbabwe 1 Doug Marillier, 2 Dion Ebrahim, 3 Travis Friend, 4 Grant Flower, 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Andy Blignaut, 7 Heath Streak (capt), 8Tatenda Taibu (wk), 9 Sean Ervine, 10 Gary Brent, 11 Doug Hondo.

World Sport Group (WSG) Nimbus confirmed Saturday that they had initiatedlegal proceedings against the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL) following their decision to cancel a three year television, radioand sponsorship deal earlier this week.The sports marketing consortium revealed that it had commenced arbitrationproceedings in Singapore and had also submitted an application to the HighCourt in Colombo.A media release, states: "WSG Nimbus confirms that yesterday afternoon itfiled a Notice of Arbitration with the Singapore International ArbitrationCentre ("SIAC") commencing proceedings in connection with its agreement withthe Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL)."It also submitted an application to the High Court in Colombo yesterday tohave the ex parte order granted there on 16th October dismissedThe BCCSL called for fresh tenders for international broadcasting rightsTuesday after advice from the Attorney General and having obtained anenjoining order from the High Court. WSG Nimbus, however, maintains that thethree-year agreement signed last December remains binding."WSG Nimbus is seeking relief from the SIAC primarily to affirm that itsagreement remains binding on the BCCSL," reads the statement issued fromSingapore."WSG Nimbus will continue to take all legal measures available to it touphold its rights under the agreement and to obtain compensation for thelosses suffered and the damage to its reputation and business caused by theactions of the BCCSL."

Nottinghamshire have declined a request from the Barmy Army to allow their trumpeter, Billy Cooper, to play at the fourth Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.Keen to recreate the atmosphere at Edgbaston – where some Australia players seemed rattled by a crowd rated the loudest Alastair Cook could remember – the Barmy Army wrote to the club asking them to reconsider their long-held ban on musical instruments inside the ground.The club held firm, however, reminding the Barmy Army that Lord’s also do not welcome musical instruments and that there would be no change of policy.”It’s disappointing,” Paul Burnham, the co-founder of the Barmy Army told ESPNcricinfo. “We know how much the players value our support and we thought the atmosphere created at Edgbaston was wonderful.”The players often talk about the support the crowd give them as being like an extra man and we’re sorry we won’t be able to provide that at Trent Bridge.”Billy Cooper – Billy The Trumpet as he is called in Barmy Army circles – attended every day of the Edgbaston Test. On the third day, 500 supporters who had purchased their tickets through the Barmy Army sat together in the middle of the Eric Hollies stand at Edgbaston and provided the foundations for some unusually loud singing and chanting described as “awesome” by Stuart Broad on Tuesday.”What people sometimes don’t understand,” Burnham said, “is that Billy orchestrates a lot of the singing. People will still do it if he’s not there. But it will be in pockets of 10 or 20 here and there. It will be chaotic and less helpful for the side and less fun for the spectators.”But we respect Nottinghamshire’s views and we respect the ground rules. We’re still be there and we’ll still be supporting the side. We’ll keep asking them to reconsider, but we will continue to respect that it is their decision.”While the noise is not to everyone’s taste – and Nottinghamshire’s more traditional atmosphere has often scored very highly in spectator rating surveys – the England team continue to value it.Ahead of the first Ashes Test of 2013, Andy Flower – the England coach at the time – pleaded with Nottinghamshire to change their stance. They refused to do so then and refuse to do so now.

Scorecard

Brad Hogg’s five wickets helped Western Australia complete a thumping victory against Queensland on the final day, by an innings and 170 runs. Queensland could not recover following a brutal day of Warriors batting on Sunday, which left them 260 runs off the pace.They headed into the fourth day four down and they finally crumbled in the afternoon session, spun out by Hogg. He picked up three in the morning, quickly removing Chris Simpson in the fourth over of the day. Queensland were in trouble at 5 for 87, and their woes were compounded when Ashley Noffke’s resistance finally gave out, caught behind for 44.Jimmy Maher batted with a runner after injuring his hamstring during his first-innings century, and he was joined by Andy Bichel in a 41-run stand broken by Trent Kelly when Bichel bottom-edged on to the stumps. Hogg’s third victim came up when Chris Hartley sent him a return catch on 3 to complete a miserable morning.Eight down at lunch, it was only a matter of time before Queensland succumbed to their first defeat of the season, and Daniel Doran was duly trapped on 4. Hogg finally wrapped up the match and the five-wicket haul when he removed Maher for 32, the batsman edging to Luke Ronchi, a fitting take for the man who had wreaked such destruction on the third day with a 51-ball hundred.

Less than three months after sacking him, Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan board, has reappointed Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner, as assistant coach for the tour to South Africa, set to begin from January 2.Mushtaq had been removed from the post hours before the Pakistan team left for the Champions Trophy in October, one of Ashraf’s first moves upon taking over the chairmanship of the board. At the time, he was deemed as “irrelevant staff” by Ashraf, though speculation centred around a combination of his close friendship with Inzamam-ul-Haq and his implication in Justice Qayyum’s report on match-fixing.But at a press conference in Lahore, Ashraf said Mushtaq was capable of serving the team. “Mushtaq has impressed me a lot with his cricketing knowledge and I think he can be a better choice for the South African tour,” he said. Mushtaq is expected to remain with the team through the whole tour, while Waqar Younis, the bowling coach, will return home after the Tests.

There aren’t too many cricketers whose initials are longer than their surname. There aren’t too many bowlers around with an economy-rate of less than 4.16 in one-dayers. Nobody has dismissed Sachin Tendulkar nine times in ODIs. And, as Marvan Atapattu said on the eve of the sixth one-dayer at Rajkot, not many medium-pacers from the subcontinent have excelled for more than 10 years on the international stage.For Chaminda Vaas, returning to Rajkot has a special significance. It was on this ground, on February 15 1994, as a raw 20-year-old, that he bowled his first-ever ball in international cricket. “It all began here and I learnt a lot from bowling on these pitches,” said Vaas on the eve of the game. “The ball swings more in Sri Lanka compared to here. Bowling on these dry wickets in hot conditions is a big test. I realised how important it is to hit the right spots consistently.” And over the last decade, not many bowlers hit them as often as Vaas.For four glorious years from 2001 to 2004, Vaas was arguably the best medium-pacer in ODIs. In 103 games in that period, he snared 146 wickets and had a staggering economy-rate of 3.95. This series, though, where he has managed just four wickets in five games at an average of 54, has been a let down and he has no qualms about admitting that his performances have been below par. “I have bowled well only in patches on this tour. I need to improve in the next two games.”In fact, his fifteen previous games in India haven’t produced too many wickets – 13 at 40.3 – but he’s been invaluable with his economy-rate of 4.44. Not many will forget his masterclass at Mumbai during the Independence Cup in 1997 when he took a wicket off the first ball of the innings, a wicket off the last ball of the innings, managed three maidens, and stunningly conceded just 13 runs in his 10 overs. The pitch was so flat that Sanath Jayasuriya and friends reached the target of 226 in the 41st over.What’s really hurt Sri Lanka in this series, though, is Vaas’s profligacy – he’s leaked 6.35 runs per over – and the pressure on the batsmen has been instantly released. The Indians went after him in the opening game at Nagpur, where he was clobbered for 67 in 10 overs, and haven’t let up ever since. “It is tough getting wickets on these pitches but economy is very important. I’m confident I can rectify the errors in the last two games and come back stronger.”However, there were glimpses of the vintage Vaas in Ahmedabad where he tied Yuvraj Singh in all sorts of knots in the early stages before dismissing him with a wonderful set-up – shifted mid-on to a short midwicket, tempted him to push in the vacant straight region and got him to mis-time an incutter.Rajkot and Baroda follow and it remains to be seen whether Vaas can find his old touch. Despite his lean patch, though, he always brings with him several other dimensions. Atapattu spoke about the value he adds to the side and said, “He works really hard and is an ideal role model for all of us. He is a perfect team man and has played a vital role in the nurturing of younger fast bowlers.” But what is the one quality that sets Vaas apart from the rest? “Basics,” said Atapattu in an emphatic manner.The peerless Wasim Akram was once referred to as the `left hand of God’. And despite his tribulations in the current series, in the one-day game at least, the boy who wanted to be priest, isn’t too far behind.

Scorecard

The Rest of India couldn’t carry on the good work with the bat this morning, but their bowlers helped them seize the initiative on the second day of the Irani Trophy match at Mohali. Fifteen wickets fell in the day as Mumbai were shot out for just 198 in their first innings. The Rest’s openers added 51 in quick time, but two late wickets meant that they had reached 84 for 2 – an overall lead of exactly 200 – when stumps were drawn.Resuming at 293 for 6, The Rest were undone by the nippy medium-pace of Robin Morris, and collapsed to 314 all out inside 10 overs in the morning. Both Parthiv Patel and Murali Kartik, who had added a valuable 95 yesterday afternoon, fell early on, and the tail hardly offered any resistance. Morris finished with 6 for 69, the fourth time that he picked up a five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.But Mumbai’s batsmen also floundered, with only two of them passing 20. Zaheer Khan had a satisfying return from injury, while Shib Shankar Paul, who had a successful tour with India A in Zimbabwe and Kenya, also chipped in with three scalps. Paul struck with two early wickets, and there were no sizeable partnerships throughout.Only Ramesh Powar’s effort helped Mumbai inch towards 200. Powar, who played in two ODIs during India’s tour of Pakistan, smashed eight fours in his 86-ball 55, and cobbled together some useful runs with the lower order. Powar was the last man to fall, and the Rest of India began their second innings with a handy 116-run lead.Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra consolidated, putting on 51, but it was Powar again who gave Mumbai a faint sniff at he end of the day. He trapped Gambhir lbw for 30 and caught and bowled Sriram in the penultimate over of the day. Chopra was still there at the close with 26, and with his team well ahead and in sight of the first trophy of the season.