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Damien Wright, the Australian fast bowler, has been forced to pull out of his contract with Derbyshire next season because of a knee injury.Wright, who plays for Tasmania, will undergo surgery at the end of the Australian season, and could be out of action for up to nine months. “It’s obviously disappointing because we planned the team around him, but we’re not going to rush into replacing him,” said Dave Houghton, Derbyshire’s coach. “Whoever we get has got to be available for six months because we don’t want to have to replace him mid-season.”Houghton added that he is looking for another bowling allrounder in the mould of Wright, and could look again at Australia for a replacement.

Group A

Karachi’s new pace-bowling sensation Sohail Khan created a Pakistan first-class record, ending with a match-haul of 16 wickets on the third day of Sui Southern Gas Company‘s tenth round Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Cricket Championship encounter against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium in Karachi.Already the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing competition, the 23-year-old Malakand-born Sohail captured a career-best 9 for 109. Added to his equally splendid figures of 7 for 80 in WAPDA’s first innings, Sohail completed 16 for 189 in the match. It beat the earlier record set by Fazal Mahmood (15 for 76) for Punjab against Pakistan Combined Services in Lahore during the 1956-57 season.In what must rank as one of the most sensational entries into first-class cricket, Sohail, who made his debut as recently as October, has now captured 65 wickets at just 18.43 runs apiece. He has taken five in an innings on eight occasions and 10 in a match twice.In spite of Sohail’s heroics, WAPDA compiled 353 runs yesterday, leaving SSGC to make 328 runs to achieve an outright victory. There were several resolute batting displays in the WAPDA innings: Nawaz Sardar, who struck 18 fours and a six, missed a maiden first-class hundred by two runs. Along with skipper Aamer Sajjad (40), Nawaz helped add 80 runs for the fourth wicket. Bilal Khilji (80) and Sunny Irshad (75) then joined together for fine 146-run association for the sixth wicket. However, the last five WAPDA wickets added only a further 19.Neither team might have done enough for a final slot though one thing is clear: third-placed WAPDA will not make it to the top of the 11-team Group A ranking.Leaders Habib Bank Limited (HBL) took another step towards qualifying for the tournament final on the third day of their tenth round, Group A Quaid-e-Azam Trophy against National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). They took a crucial 44-run first innings lead in the match against NBP Sports Complex Stadium in Karachi.Thanks to a fine 137-run fourth-wicket partnership between Aftab Khan and Khaqan Arsal, Habib Bank responded with 341 against National Bank’s 297 all out. The 23-year-old Khaqan, who brought up his third first-class century, remained unbeaten till the end with 109, a knock involving 16 fours.Aftab cracked a 210-ball 80 in a little over four-and-a-half hours. Skipper Hasan Raza perished for a rare duck as did Salman Qadir, but a 42-run seventh-wicket partnership between wicketkeeper Humayun Farhat and Khaqan allowed Habib Bank to gain the lead. By the close of play, with opener Nasir Jamshed having made an unbeaten 58, National Bank gained a slender edge of 42 runs with nine wickets in hand.Habib Bank are in a must-win situation here. A draw will take their points tally to 66 after nine matches. National Bank will then still have two more games to go and the full points from two wins will keep them in contention for the final.After having dominated Sialkot for much of the first two days, Lahore Ravi were in some trouble, on the third day of their tenth round match, at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground in Lahore.Sialkot, who had restricted Lahore’s lead to 77 after being shot out for a pathetic 88, recovered to score 288 runs in their second innings. Needing 212 to win, Lahore Ravi were 177 for 7 by the close of play, needing 35 more to wrap up the win.For Sialkot, skipper Ayub Dogar hit a splendid century, a 240-ball 124 that included 15 fours and two sixes. Lahore pace bowler Waqas Ahmed, meanwhile, continued with his excellent display in the match taking 6 for 70, ending with 10 for 118 in the match. Medium-pacer Mohammad Ali Bhutta continued his devastating form, ending with 4 for 54 in the second innings, adding to his 5 for 38 in the first.Multan scored 446 runs in their first innings, taking a 111-run lead over Hyderabad in the Multan Cricket Stadium. A double-hundred by their left-handed opener Usman Tariq, who’s knock contained 20 fours and five sixes, formed the bedrock of the Multan innings.Centuries by Asif Iqbal and Zahoor Elahi allowed Pakistan Customs to compile 338 runs against Karachi Whites at the National Stadium. In reply, Karachi managed to reach 154 for 4 at close, still 184 runs in deficit. Iqbal scored his second first-class century and his highest individual score after batting for over five hours and hitting 13 fours. With Elahi, he added 159 runs for the fourth wicket. For Karachi, Khalid Latif continued his impressive form with the bat and scored 42 while Asim Kamal is still unbeaten on 47.

Group B

Making their debut in the competition this season, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) became the first team to qualify for the tournament final when, on the third day of their tenth round, they easily defeated Lahore Shalimar by ten wickets in the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.After having gained a first innings lead of 135, SNGPL bowled out the opposition for a modest 206. This left them just 72 runs to win, which they attained without loss in a matter of 7.1 overs.With 63 points from nine matches, and a game in hand, SNGPL have raced ahead of second-placed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the Group B table. PIA have their last match coming up and, with only 48 points in their kitty, don’t have a chance of making the final.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited rattled up a big first-innings lead of 327 over Karachi Blues, on the third day of their tenth round, Group B Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex Ground No.1 in Karachi.Opening batsman Afaq Rahim’s unbeaten 205, his second double-hundred of the tournament following his career-best 275 against Quetta last month, was a record-breaking milestone. It was the 100th double century achieved by any batsman in the 50 editions of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.The 22-year-old Afaq, from Mirpur in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, had already reached his career’s seventh hundred with his 107 on Friday afternoon. He batted just a minute over 10 hours in an innings that comprised 450 balls with the help of 24 fours. Afaq added 232 vital runs with Wajahatulla Wasti, who cracked his 15th first-class hundred with the help of 13 fours and three sixes.Having bowled the Blues out for 188 on the opening day, ZTBL reached a massive 515 for five yesterday before skipper Wasti declared. By the close of play, Karachi Blues had lost two wickets — both to medium-fast Kashif Dawood, the five-wicket hero in the first innings – while adding 51. They still need another 277 to avoid an innings defeat.This match is really of no importance in the context of the teams getting to the final. ZTBL are placed fifth in the 11-team Group B ranking with 27 points from nine matches. They are making their last appearance in the pool round. The Blues are down at No.9, just above Abbottabad and Quetta, with just 12 points from eight matches.At the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, the hosts, took the first innings lead against Quetta. Ameer Khan missed a century, managing a 170-ball 92, but had done well to help his team to the lead. Quetta responded with 237 for 4 in their second innings, mainly through an unbroken 96-run fifth-wicket stand between opener Shoaib Khan (95) and Jalat Khan (46), and are now 199 ahead with six wickets intact.Rawalpindi took a 60-run lead over Peshawar at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, after compiling 316 in reply to the hosts’ 256. Youngster Usman Saeed (94) missed his hundred by six runs. Peshawar erased 45 runs off the lead while losing one wicket in their second innings by the end of the day.The left-handed Saeed Anwar attained the 12th century of his first-class career, as he made 107 runs in the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) score of 356 for 7 against Abbottabad at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. The two teams had earlier forfeited their respective first innings after the opening day on Thursday had been completely washed out. The highlight of the innings was Saaed’s 151-runs stand with Bazid Khan (78).

Quinton Friend and Johann Louw bowled the Dolphins to a seven-wicket win against the Titans at Durban as they bounced back from their opening-week defeat against the Eagles. Friends’ 5 for 30 set the ball rolling as the Titans fell away for 147 after the opening day had been washed out. Imran Khan (80) and Hashim Amla (59), fresh from his tour of Pakistan, added 108 for the second wicket as the Dolphins moved into the lead just one down. Then the innings fell away with the last nine wickets falling for 117 as Imran Tahir, the legspinner who had a short stint with Yorkshire this year, worked his way through the middle order. But a 130-run lead was significant in the conditions and Louw kept the pressure on the Titans throughout their second innings. The top score was Brendon Reddy’s 38 as wickets fell steadily, Louw revelling in bowler-friendly conditions with 6 for 88. Chasing 111, the Dolphins had few problems as Khan completed a fine match with an unbeaten 45.The Eagles continued their flying start to the season with their second consecutive victory, a 113-run win against the Lions at Kimberley, and were spearheaded by the prolific form of seamer Dillon du Preez. He claimed match figures of 10 for 112, his most dramatic intervention coming as the Lions crashed to 48 for 7 in their first innings after the Eagles had struggled to 199 with Craig Alexander, the former South Africa Under-19 fast bowler, taking his first five-wicket haul. Neither first innings produced a half-century, but the defining knock of the match then came from Boeta Dippenaar who ground out a 289-ball 153. He added 102 with Ryan McLaren to set the Lions a huge target of 441. Although they battled hard for more than 130 overs it was a futile effort as du Preez led the attack with 33 overs. The key wicket, though, came from a stunning piece of fielding from McLaren as his direct hit accounted for Neil McKenzie, on 54 at the time, moments before lunch on the final day and with him the Lions’ last real hope.Bowlers dominated at Port Elizabeth where the Warriors came out on top against the Cape Cobras by six wickets. The visitors were on the back foot from the start as they fell in a heap for 110 with Nantie Hayward and Lonwabo Tsotsobe sharing seven wickets. For Tsotsobe it was another eye-catching display after his career-best 7 for 39 in the opening round of matches and he has a chance to impress the national selectors after being named to face New Zealand in a tour match this week. Success for the batsmen was limited, but Arno Jacobs hammered an aggressive 93 to build an imposing lead of 173. Andrew Puttick replied with a marathon 92 off 212 balls and at 134 for 1, with Gerhard Strydom on 65, the match wasn’t gone from the Cobras. However, the combination of Hayward’s pace and Robin Peterson’s left-arm spin proved too much for the middle order. Still, chasing down 95 didn’t come without a scare for the Warriors as Monde Zondeki ripped into the top order to leave them 26 for 4. It took a counter-attacking stand of 72 between the two Jacobs – Arno and Davey – to seal the result.Player of the week – Dillon du Preez
The Eagles have flown into an early lead at the top of the SuperSport table after victories in their opening two matches. Dillon du Preez, the 26-year-old quick bowler, has played a major role in their early success with 17 wickets, and his impressive form brought a maiden 10-wicket match haul against the Lions. The key spell came at the start of the Lions’ first innings, with the Eagles needing early wickets after struggling to 199. du Preez, swinging the ball at pace, quickly put that total into perspective as he removed Stephen Cook and Alviro Petersen in his second over and soon added Blake Snijman. His 6 for 40 were career-best figures and there was more to come in the second innings.

For results and scorecards click here

For results and scorecards click here

The ICC will officially launch the Under-19 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur this Wednesday.The tournament takes place in Malaysia between February 17 and March 2 and will spread over three cities – Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor. Besides the ICC’s 10 Full Members and hosts Malaysia, five qualifiers – Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Ireland and Bermuda – will take part.The 16 teams have been divided into four groups with the top two teams progressing to the Super League quarter-finals while the two bottom teams from each group will play in the Plate Championship quarter-finals.The winners of the Super League quarter-finals will qualify for the semi-finals whereas the losing quarter-finalists will play in the Super League play-offs. The winners of the Plate Championship quarter-finals will play in the Plate Championship semi-finals while the beaten quarter-finalists will participate in the Plate Championship play-offs.

As the Irani Trophy encounter between Mumbai and Rest of India resumed on the fourth morning at the Wankhede Stadium, the only point of interest was whether Murali Kartik would scalp all ten, a feat achieved by only four other Indians in first class cricket: Premangshu Chatterjee, Subhash Gupte, Pradeep Sunderam and Anil Kumble. The umpire from whose end Kartik bowled unchanged was – you guessed it – AV Jayaprakash, who had given the marching orders to Kumble’s ten victims just about 20 months ago.The 24-year-old left armer almost got there, picking up the first nine wickets, and even misdirecting a shy at the stumps that would have thrown out Nilesh Kulkarni when Mumbai were eight down. Speaking to the press after the game was over, Kartik said that was the moment when he felt God wanted him to take all ten. Unfortunately Sharandeep Singh was not kept posted of the almighty’s wishes and invited Santosh Saxena to drive a fullish length delivery into substitute Reetinder Sodhi at extra cover.Sharandeep bent his head in embarrassment like a schoolboy caught out by his headmaster after a disreputable act but that took little away from Kartik’s bravura performance. His unchanged spell of 24-6-70-9 – all victims caught – was a record for the Irani Trophy, beating Ravi Shastri’s 9-101 almost twenty seasons ago. Mumbai were bowled out for 184, leaving Rest with a target of 56 runs which openers Sadagopan Ramesh (24) and Shiv Sunder Das (34) knocked off in 35 minutes inside eight overs.Resuming from the Tata end this morning, Kartik had Paras Mhambrey caught at silly point by Mohd. Kaif in his first over without any addition to the overnight score of 145. And in his next over Ramesh Powar was brilliantly caught at forward short leg by Shiv Sunder Das for scalp number seven. Having watched the carnage from the other end, Amol Majumdar seemed to have realised that by playing defensively to Kartik, it was only a matter of time before one of the close catchers pounced. Indeed after the two openers were caught at midon and midoff as they charged Kartik, the next five victims were all snapped up around the bat.Skipper VVS Laxman had opened with Dodda Ganesh from the pavilion end and in the ninth over of the day, he introduced off spinner Sharandeep Singh who had been underbowled in the second innings after matching Kartik wicket for wicket in the first. But it was Kartik who broke through yet again. Majumdar’s intention to go after the bowler was laudable as he jumped out of the crease but the execution was faulty, the ball brushing past him en route to Laxman at first slip.The batsman stood transfixed at the crease for almost a full minute, staring in disbelief at Jayaprakash as though willing him to reverse his verdict. Majumdar’s two hour occupation of the crease had netted 37 from 92 balls with five fours as Mumbai slumped to 175/8. Rajesh Pawar stroked Sharandeep for two boundaries to midwicket but when he sought to give Kartik the same treatment, it proved fatal. The intended sweep was top edged for Jacob Martin to take a splendid catch running several metres backwards from his position at leg slip. It was Kartik’s ninth successive wicket, leaving him with two deliveries in the over to get at Nilesh Kulkarni but he passed up the opportunity and Sharandeep made no mistake.Kartik said the wicket had been seaming early on and providing good carry but got slower and slower as the match progressed. Asked whether his ejection from the National Cricket Academy had raised doubts in his mind about whether he would gain selection for the Irani Trophy, Kartik replied with an emphatic negative. He said he had to leave because of a cracked wrist bone which had not been diagnosed properly and it was the media which had played it up by clubbing him with two others who had been forced out because of indiscipline. The return to peak fitness of this Superintending Officer employed with the Indian Railways should lend a new and formidable dimension to a hitherto nondescript Indian attack in the ensuing season.

Frizzell County Championship Division One
Table
Kent 535 v Surrey 125 and 169 for 7 at Canterbury (Day 2)
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Surrey’s title hopes took a massive dive as they spiralled to almost-certain defeat against Kent. Surrey were forced to follow on and then made a right mess second time round as well, ending up 241 runs behind with only three wickets left. Replying to Kent’s 535, Surrey crashed to 125 all out in 28.5 overs. Martin Saggers started the rot by ripping through the top order as Surrey lurched to 64 for 5. Saggers, who took 4 for 40, was on the mark right from the off. He bowled Ian Ward (2), Jonathan Batty (28) and Mark Ramprakash (4), then trapped Nadeem Shahid lbw for 4. Then Amjad Khan took over. He winkled out three further wickets, including the battling Rikki Clarke for 26, then Muttiah Muralitharan polished off the tail with Surrey still trailing by 410. Saggers then took another two, and Murali three, as only Ian Ward (53) and Ally Brown (40) provided much resistance in Surrey’s second innings.Essex 335 and 154 for 1 beat Nottinghamshire 284 and 204 by nine wickets at Chelmsford (Day 3)
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Alastair Cook and Andy Flower led Essex to their second Championship victory of the season, both of which came against Notts. While the win kept alive Essex’s slim hopes of surviving relegation, it confirmed Nottinghamshire’s drop to the second division. Chasing 154, Cook scored an assured 69 not out on his first-class debut then, after Will Jefferson departed for 38, Andy Flower cracked a brisk 45 from 35 to help Essex home. That target of 154 would have been even less if it hadn’t been for Jason Gallian, who rescued Notts with a fighting 79 from 245 balls. Andy Clarke (4 for 34) picked up three quick wickets in the morning as Notts stumbled 108 to 5. Bilal Shafayat then became James Foster’s fourth catch of the innings, but Gallian held firm. He got some help from Paul Franks, who made 23, but once he was out, Essex wrapped up the last three wickets for 31 to set up their nine-wicket win.Warwickshire 449 v Lancashire 781 at Edgbaston (Day 3)
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Lancashire passed 700 for the second time in a fortnight as Stuart Law and Carl Hooper added to their mountain of runs this season with a stand of 360 – a fifth-wicket record for Lancashire – against Warwickshire. Law and Hooper are becoming a very prosperous double act for Lancashire and they followed their stand of 282 against Middlesex last week with another batting masterclass. Law started play on 11 not out, and Hooper with only a single, but they both raced to their centuries as Lancashire ended the day on a massive 781, and a lead of 332. Law biffed his way to 168, including 23 fours, while Hooper smashed 16 fours and eight sixes in his 177 before he was caught shortly before tea. Glen Chapple then smacked a quick 60 from 85 balls to add to the Warwickshire attack’s dismal day. Melvyn Betts finished with 0 for 151, while Mark Wagh took seven wickets, but for the small matter of 222 runs.Sussex v Middlesex 392 at Hove (Day 1)
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With Surrey in all sorts of trouble at Canterbury, the Championship favourites Sussex failed to put Middlesex under the same kind of pressure, as Andy Strauss and Owais Shah added 219 in Middlesex’s healthy 392. Strauss continued his purple patch with 138 from 172 balls, while Shah creamed 140, featuring 25 fours and two sixes. Jason Lewry did strike twice early on to leave Middlesex teetering on 33 for 2, but then the Strauss-Shah duet held things up. However, when Shah was finally out to Mushtaq Ahmed, the last five wickers tumbled for 18 as Mushtaq cleaned up the tail and took his tally to 95 scalps this season.Frizzell County Championship Division Two
Table
Northamptonshire 538 for 7 dec beat Durham 190 and 263 by an innings and 85 runs at Wantage Road (Day 3)
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Jason Brown led Northants to an emphatic win against Durham which all but guarantees their return to Division One next season. Brown took his season’s tally to 55 with a matchwinning spell of 5 for 90 as Durham surrendered for 263 in their second innings. Martin Love top-scored with 84, and Phil Mustard (35) and Graeme Bridge (33 not out) put on 51, but once that partnership was broken, the end came quickly as Durham lost their last four wickets in seven balls to Brown and Graeme Swann (3 for 77). Yorkshire 410 and 132 for 1 beat Somerset 228 and 313 by nine wickets at Headingley (Day 3)
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Matthew Wood and Anthony McGrath led Yorkshire to a comfortable win against Somerset, to give their side a sniff of promotion back to Division One. Wood (53 not out) and McGrath (67 not out) added 103 while chasing their target of 132. The Yorkshire attack, boasting four England internationals, shared the wickets between them, but Steve Kirby grabbed the two most important ones. He dismissed Neil Edwards for 90 and Jamie Cox for 59 as Somerset were bowled out for 313.Gloucestershire 401 and 209 for 8 v Derbyshire 321 at Bristol (Day 3)
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Jon Lewis and Craig Spearman put Gloucestershire in a strong position going into the final day against Derbyshire. Lewis took a season’s-best 7 for 117 in Derbyshire’s 321, in which Steve Stubbings scored a valuable 103 before the last four wickets added 87. Derbyshire still trailed by 80, and Spearman then rubbed in Gloucestershire’s advantage as he walloped a quickfire 87 from 85 balls. Graeme Welch and Paul Havell took three wickets apiece, but Gloucestershire were in charge with a 289-run lead at the close.Worcestershire 364 and 313 for 9 dec v Hampshire 265 and 91 for 2 at the Rose Bowl (Day 3)
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Worcestershire, whose promotion was confirmed when Durham lost to Northants, are likely to be celebrating again after they moved into a winning position against Hampshire. Resuming on 50 for no loss and with a lead of 149, Kadeer Ali scored 79 and Vikram Solanki hit 77, including 13 fours, as Worcestershire raced to 313 for 9 before declaring. That set Hampshire an unlikely 413 to win, and even though they made steady progress to 91 for 2, they still require another 321 tomorrow.

St Thomas College 22 for 2 trail Royal College 294 for 6 dec (Edussuriya 140*, Ratnayake 49) by 272 runs
ScorecardThe Sri Lanka-Australia Test at Galle might be attracting all the international attention, but the 125th annual Royal-Thomian match – the famed three-day “Battle of the Blues” – at the Sinhalese Sports Club was all the talk in Colombo. And a superb hundred by Dhanushka Edussuriya, which gave Royal College the edge at the end of the first day, was sure to generate headlines tomorrow.Edussuriya came to the crease with his side struggling on 60 for 4 after they had lost the toss and been inserted by St Thomas College. He added 101 for the fifth wicket with Ganganath Ratnayake (49) and then 134 for the sixth wicket in 30 overs with Manoj Morawake (45*).In front of a decent crowd, including a fair number of politicians and corporate big-wigs, the morning session belonged to St Thomas as their seamers exploited the early moisture to rip through Royal’s top-order.But St Thomas’s bowlers, bereft of Chathuranga Somapala who failed a late fitness test, lacked the penetration to press home their advantage, and Edussuriya’s took charge. His innings was a masterpiece of timing and control – he reached his fifty in an hour-and-a-half, his hundred in three hours, and never allowed the bowlers to settle. His stand with Morawake left St Thomas’s wilting, and enabled Royal to declare and give themselves 45 minutes to have a go at St Thomas.The tactic worked, as both openers were dismissed in the nine overs before the close.

After last week’s heavy loss, North West came back strongly to beat neighbours Gauteng in the Bull Ring and in so doing moved ahead of both Northerns and Gauteng as round four of the SuperSport Series was completed yesterday.Career bests from Ryan Bailey (80), James Henderson (143) and Francois van der Merwe (5 for 45), together with another five wicket haul from Garth Roe saw North West winning by 169 runs. First-innings efforts from Derek Crookes (82), back from injury, and Garnett Kruger (5 for 82) was all in vain as Gauteng capitulated in the second innings.Excitement in Paarl saw Easterns, chasing 100 in 14 overs, nearly hand the game to Boland as they lost the plot, ending on 95 for 9 with a wicket falling on the last ball. Easterns scored 558 for 8 declared in the first innings – taking a first-innings lead of 317 – with Zander de Bruyn following up on his 266* last week with another hundred, and a maiden century from Godfrey Toyana. Following-on, Boland fought back with 416, Gerhard Strydom cracking a career-best 151, and Con de Lange making 109. Easterns’ left-arm spinner, Jacob Malao, returned career-best figures of 5 for 50.Pool A leaders KwaZulu-Natal ended their winning run with a tame draw against bottom of the table Eastern Province. Robin Peterson gave Eastern Province a polished allround performance scoring a hundred and taking 5 for 136 with Doug Watson scoring another hundred and Imran Khan taking 4 for 73 for the visitors.Free State made light work of neighbours Griqualand West, finishing the game off inside three days, Morne van Wyk scoring 122 and the veteran Allan Donald taking another five-wicket haul.A hundred for Mark Bruyns, playing his 100th first class game, was not enough for Border as Western Province ran away with a 176 run victory making ground on Border leading Pool B of the table.SuperSport Series Pool AFree State beat Griqualand West by an innings and 16 runs. Griqualand West 215 (Bosman 86, van der Wath 4-35) and 195 (Bosman 52, Donald 5/40); Free State 426 (van Wyk 122, Beukes 69, Liebenberg 52).Eastern Province drew with KwaZulu-Natal. Eastern Province 326 (Bradfield 99, Tucker 67, Khan 4-73) and 281 for 6 dec (Peterson 108, Bryant 69*); KwaZulul-Natal 305 (Watson 134, Brown 84, Benkenstein 64, Peterson5-136) and 241 for 5 (Benkenstein 73*).Boland drew with Easterns. Easterns 538 for 8 dec (Z de Bruyn 174, Toyana 113, Hall 89, P de Bruyn 80) and 95/9 (Albertyn 4-29); Boland 241 (Ontong 102, Malao 5-50) and 416 (Strydom 151, de Lange 109, Sanders 57).SuperSport Series Pool BWestern Province beat Border by 176 runs. Western Province 239 (Puttick 64, Henderson 4-74, Langeveldt 4-61) and 304 (Kirsten 78, Duminy 70, Henderson 4-62); Border 217 (Bruyns 101, Kreusch 59, Telemachus 4-59) and 150 (Henderson 4-59).North West beat Gauteng by 169 runs. North West 369 (Bailey 80, Rowley 69, Kruger 5-82) and 300 for 4 dec (Henderson 143, Grace 64); Gauteng 375 (Crookes 82, Ackerman 73, Nkwe 51, Roe 5-108) and 125 (van der Merwe 5-45).Pool A and B Log Tables.

India 523 and 233 for 6 (Dravid 72*) beat Australia 556 and 196 by 4 wickets
Scorecard

Rahul Dravid turned in his second heroic innings of the match, as India etched out a magnificent four-wicket victory at the Adelaide Oval to go 1-0 up in the four-Test series – their first win in Australia since their triumph at Melbourne in 1980-81. Following up his 233 in the first innings, Dravid remained undefeated on 72 – and hit the winning runs, a cut off Stuart MacGill – as India nailed their target of 230 just after tea on the final day.In the end, the win came easily enough, with VVS Laxman providing the impetus to the innings with a breezy 32 of 34 balls, but for much of the day, it was a struggle, as the Australians fought all the way despite being severely hampered by injuries to two of their bowlers. Jason Gillespie walked off with a groin strain midway through his tenth over, while Brad Williams showed plenty of heart in bowling despite an injured left shoulder.In an intense and tension-filled morning session, the Australian bowlers came at the Indians with plenty of fire. Williams gave Dravid a thorough working-over, and was desperately unlucky not to nail him: Adam Gilchrist dropped the chance after Dravid edged a delivery which pitched perfectly in the corridor. Dravid was on 9 then, and India, who had already lost Akash Chopra early, trapped in front by Gillespie for 20 (47 for 1), would have been 73 for 2.The second wicket did fall soon after, but it was Virender Sehwag who fell, after making an uncharacteristically restrained 47, from 81 balls. With the runs drying up, Sehwag charged down the pitch to MacGill, missed, and was comfortably stumped (79 for 2).Sachin Tendulkar and Dravid took India to lunch, and well past it, with a 70-run stand. After missing out in his first two innings of the series, Tendulkar was far more assured this time around. He started off with a paddle-sweep off MacGill for four, then unleashed some confident drives and pulls whenever the bowlers erred in length. Williams came back for a second spell, and, despite bowling at a reduced pace of about 130 kmph, tested both batsmen with his reverse-swing. The partnership threatened to shut Australia out of the match when MacGill, who had until then bowled mostly from round the wicket, changed angle, and struck. Tendulkar failed to read a straighter one which pitched on middle-and-leg, shouldered arms, and was trapped in front for 37 (149 for 3).When Sourav Ganguly departed soon after, scooping a drive off Andy Bichel to Simon Katich at point for 12 (170 for 4), India needed a further 60, and Australia were back in the contest.Laxman changed the momentum of the match in a flash, taking full toll of the loose balls that MacGill threw up. Dravid had missed out on a couple of full tosses earlier, but Laxman made every bad ball count, caressing drives through cover and midwicket, and then cutting a short delivery to the point fence, as three fours came from a MacGill over.Dravid grew in confidence too, dispatching a long-hop from MacGill through cover, as the pair added 51 in quick time. Laxman played a shot too many and was dismissed soon after tea, mistiming a hoick off Katich to Bichel (221 for 5), but by then, with victory only nine runs away, the issue had already been decided. Parthiv Patel contrived to delay the moment, when he was bowled round his legs by Katich, but that only allowed, fittingly, Ajit Agarkar and Dravid – India’s heroes in this Test – to be together when the winning runs were hit.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, a key allrounder for Sri Lanka, has been passed fit to play in Sri Lanka’s first Champions Trophy match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. Dilshan’s right hand had needed stitches after the webbing was split in the last one-dayer against South Africa.Dilshan sat out the opening warm-up match of Sri Lanka’s Champions Trophy campaign, but returned for their final practice game against a weak ECB XI on Friday, scoring 41. Crucially, Dilshan, who is expected to play an important supporting role with his flat offbreaks on the dry end-of-season pitches, also resumed bowling in the nets.Sri Lanka’s main selection dilemma as they prepare for the tournament has been whether to play six or seven batsman. Their recent success was achieved with six batting specialists backed up by bowling allrounders. But England’s more bowler-friendly conditions may persuade them to add Saman Jayantha as an extra batsman; if not against Zimbabwe, then probably against England.The bowling attack will be led by Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa. Upul Chandana will probably be the first-choice spinner. The final bowling slot, assuming seven batsmen play, will then be a tight contest between Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga. But Maharoof’s fielding and batting may get him the nod. Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan would then add support with their part-time spin.However, if the weather is bright and sunny against England at the Rosebowl on Friday – the weather forecasters are predicting a dry and sunny week on the south coast – and the pitch offers assistance for the spinners, then they will be tempted to stick with their winning formula and include Kaushal Lokuarachchi; a move that will undoubtedly add more teeth to a bowling attack missing Muttiah Muralitharan.The bowling had a good day out in the hopelessly one-sided encounter against the ECB XI at Shenley. Dilshan’s return was the only real benefit to emerge from a match in which Sri Lanka piled up 261 and then bowled out the team of recreational cricketers for 91, with Zoysa and Lokuarachchi sharing six wickets.