Baroda gained first innings points against Saurashtra in a Cooch BeharTrophy West Zone league game at the Motibaug Palace Ground in Barodatoday. A captain’s knock of 165 (382 balls, 22 fours) by Vimal Joshiand his 165 run fourth wicket stand with Akhilesh Joshi (76) saw thehosts pile up 417/6 before declaring on the second day.Left arm spinner Hitshu Bachani then produced a spot of magic with theball, claiming 5/82 as Saurashtra stumbled to 290 all out, skipperUday Karavadra making 67 to add to his two wickets and one catch inBaroda’s innings. In the 11 overs that remained Baroda closed at 16/1,taking home five points while Saurashtra collected three.

WORCESTER, England – Let the games begin.The Australian limited overs cricket squad arrived in England tonight for its pre-Ashes tour and immediately piled onto the team bus for a two-and-a-half hour trip to Worcester.Captain Steve Waugh and the rest of the world champion Australian outfithave only two days to find their barings before the tour opener againstWorcestershire on Friday.English newspapers are describing the looming Ashes battle as “momentous”and “enticing” and the second Test between England and Pakistan, whichstarts Thursday, is regarded as little more than a prelude to the mainfive-Test bout against Australia.The Australians did not arrive at the grand Bank House Hotel, set among along stretch of green rolling hills, until after dark following their flightfrom Turkey.They will be on the field before they know it but congested schedules havebecome a fact of life for the modern cricketer, and captain Steve Waugh wasnot complaining.”There is so much cricket and a lot of tours, there’s not many lead up gamesto any tours anymore,” he said.”You’ve got to get accustomed to it because it’s just a part of cricketnow.”Australia’s thin preparation for next month’s tri-series against England andPakistan is the three-dayer against Worcestershire then a pair of one-dayersagainst Middlesex and Northamptonshire.England and Pakistan launch the one-day tournament on June 7 at Birminghambefore Australia begins its campaign two days later against Pakistan atCardiff in Wales.The Australian Test squad will have a similarly scarce build-up to the Ashesopener at Edgbaston from July 5 courtesy of three-day fixtures against anMCC XI and Essex.”A couple of guys won’t have a lot of cricket but we’re hoping they’ll get alot of practice beforehand and they’ll switch on,” said Waugh.”That’s part of being a professional.”

The final report from Justice Edwin King’s commission of inquiry into match-fixing and corruption in cricket has been completed and handed over to the South African government, the United Cricket Board said on Friday.The King Commission was instituted following revelations in India that former South African captain Hansie Cronje had been captured on tape recordings discussing what appeared to be arrangements to fix matches with an Indian bookmaker.After representations from the UCB, the SA government appointed Justice King to head an inquiry into the matter. Public hearings were held in Cape Town last June during which the extent of Cronje’s involvement and that of Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams became apparent.Whether the whole story was revealed is a matter for conjecture. Several witnesses who might have been able to shed further light on the affair were not called to give evidence and there were conflicting reports, especially from former South African coach Bob Woolmer, that the UCB, and former managing director Ali Bacher in particular, had been aware of approaches to the South African team for several years.Whatever the case, no further hearings took place and despite travelling to India, the commission was unable to lay its hands on the incriminating tapes. Cronje, meanwhile, was banned from cricket for life – he is currently in the process of challenging the ban – while Gibbs and Williams received and served six-month bans.The revelations of the King commission, and those of the Quayam Report in Pakistan, led directly to the appointment of Sir Paul Condon as the ICC anti-corruption commissioner.Despite recent suggestions that Cronje could face criminal prosecution for not making full disclosure, this seems unlikely and Justice King’s report is not expected to contain a great deal more than his already published interim report.The final report has been handed to the Ministry of Sport and Recreation who, in turn will pass it on to South African President, Thabo Mbeki. Once President Mbeki has read the report it will be released to the UCB and the public.

The International Cricket Council needs more powers to deal withissues like match-fixing and the refusal of countries to play againstcertain opponents, ICC chief Malcolm Gray said in Sharjah on Tuesday.Gray, in Sharjah for a brief stop en route to London to attend nextweek’s ICC annual general meeting, said the ICC needs sweeping powersin almost every area and vowed to take steps to eliminate matchfixing.”We hope and strive to get more powers to control the gameeffectively,” he told reporters at the Sharjah Stadium. He wasreferring to match-fixing scandals plaguing the game worldwide andIndia’s refusal to play traditional rivals Pakistan at some offshorevenues, the latest being in Sharjah in April.Gray praised the anti-corruption report submitted last month by formerScotland Yard chief Sir Paul Condon, adding the report would be takenup at the ICC meeting. “This meeting will be a key moment in cricket’sfightback against match-fixing as members from around the worldreaffirm their commitment to a corruption-free culture. No one shoulddoubt our determination to achieve this aim. After the meeting, theICC will announce what action it intends to take.”Gray said points accrued during a Test cricket championship serieswill be deducted from countries that refuse to play with others “forpolitical or other reasons

Shaun Green struck a superb 103 not out on a crumbling Burnaby Road surface as Easton & Martyr Worthy edged a dramatic one-wicket win over Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 rivals United Services.Green’s unbeaten century won the day after veteran Kelson Brooks (6-40) had exploited the dubious conditions to send Easton tumbling from 134-3 to a match-winning 185-9.”Given the poor state of the pitch, Shaun’s was probably the best innings I’ve ever seen from a club cricketer,” praised Easton team-mate Andy Birch.”It was the first time Shaun had ever worn a helmet – but, believe me, it was necessary.”Mark Stone and Steve Green each took three wickets as US totalled 183-9, with Gary Hounsome (46) top scoring.Zimbabwean all-rounder Daniel Peacock hit 68 and grabbed 4-51 as Lymington crushed Sparsholt by 103 runs to remain in contact with leaders Portsmouth.But Portsmouth had little difficulty in retaining their unbeaten lead, Raj Maru taking 5-12 as Old Basing were bowled out for 106.Stephen Cook (59) and Geoff Pike (37) led Portsmouth home.Peacock (68) and Ben Craft (61) shared a third wicket stand of 115 as Lymington put the depleted Sparsholt attack to the sword.Neil Trestrail (65 not out) and Ian Young (36 not out) cashed in with an unbroken century stand as Lymington surged towards 279-4.Sparsholt needed a major contribution from one of their top order if they were to muster any kind of challenge – but didn’t get one.Carl Nichols (29), Andy Heyes and Rob Savage all made starts, but Peacock (4-51), Glyn Treagus (2-26) and Brian Clemow (2-30) got amongst the wickets as Sparsholt tumbled to 176-9.Hampshire Under-19 trio Martin Docis (5-23), Neil Randall (75 not out) and Chris Benham (56) had a field day as Cove crushed depleted Old Tauntonians & Romsey by eight wickets.The leg spin of Docis accounted for the tail as OTs tumbled to 166 all out (Jeremy Ord 36), while Randall and Benham guided Cove home with ease.Trojans pair Marvin Sandiford and Tim Subnaik had Hambledon rocking at 29-4 before Andy Field (45) and Mark le Clerq (39) steadied the slide at Ridge Meadow.Tim Felgate (4-53) helped dismiss the Dons for an eventual 174 – a target six-wicket winners, Trojans polished off, with Mario Mohammed (60) and Subnaik (46) to the fore.Read Mike Vimpany’s regular cricket round-ups in the Southern Daily Echo

Neil Carter proved the unlikely hero of Warwickshire’s comfortable five-wicket win over dispirited Essex at Edgbaston.The 26-year-old English-qualified South African was promoted for his one-day debut after impressive performances in the Second XI and responded with a match-winning all-round performance.Carter took four for 21 with his left-arm seamers as Essex were dismissed for 160 and then struck a quickfire 40 in his role as pinch-hitter as Warwickshire coasted home with almost seven overs to spare.Carter took his first three wickets for 12 runs in eight overs and it was a surprise when Warwickshire skipper Michael Powell then withdrew him from the attack.Essex skipper Ronnie Irani and Jamie Foster staged a partial recovery before Carter returned to take his fourth wicket and Essex might have made more of a game of it had they had a full-strength attack.They did manage to reduce Warwickshire to 93 for five after Carter had launched the innings with a 43-ball 40 which included two pulled sixes off Ashley Cowan.Paul Grayson’s slow left-arm spin on a slowly turning pitch caused Warwickshire most problems but the lack of depth in Essex’s bowling attack showed as Dougie Brown and Trevor Penney steered Warwickshire home.They added 68 in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership with Brown completing a valuable half-century from 86 balls with three fours.It was Carter, predictably enough, who took the man-of-the-match award for the outstanding performance of an instantly forgettable match played in miserably cold weather.

Another day of batting domination at Derby saw the home side make their highest score for three years to claim a first innings lead.Karl Krikken made 93 and was given good support by the tail as Derbyshire celebrated maximum batting points for the first time this season.Notts lost Darren Bicknell before they had wiped out Derbyshire’s 46 run advantage and Guy Welton also fell before the close when the visitors were 131-2, a lead of 85.So far, a pitch which has offered very little for the bowlers has yielded 1,229 runs for 22 wickets and unless the teams can contrive something tomorrow, it is hard to see anything other than a draw.The fact that Derbyshire’s last four wickets added 191 runs indicated how easy batting was and after Graeme Welch and Nathan Dumelow had shared stands of 44 and 45, Paul Aldred piled on the frustration for Notts.He scored 35 out of a partnership of 92 in 26 overs for the ninth wicket before he edged Usman Afzaal to slip and Derbyshire’s 572 equalled the fifth highest total in the county’s history.Welton hit two sixes and six fours in his fifty before he was bowled playing around a ball from Welch but Greg Blewett was still there on 39 with the promise of plenty more runs to come on the final day.

Glamorgan coach Jeff Hammond has spoken out about Robert Croft`s omission from the England side for the Fourth Test against Australia.The Welsh spinner has been included in the Test squad for the last three Tests but has only played in one, and then bowled just three overs at Trent Bridge.Hammond says he is absolutely bewildered by England’s strategy ofoverlooking the Welshman.”To say I’m angry about the issue is an understatement," said Hammond."I’m so bewildered at what’s happening. I really feel for Robert’s situation. He’s virtually had three starts for Glamorgan all season and there’s times when he has gone two weeks without bowling a ball in a game.”I could come to grips with it if the guy was on a contract but he’s not on central contract so what are they trying to do? Are they just meddling with the guy’s future? Not only that but what value is it to Glamorgan?””Robert must be shattered being thrown from pillar to post. It can’t domuch for his confidence and it’s doesn’t do a lot for Glamorgan’s causeeither.””They had taken him up to Headingley because the pitch was very devoid of grass. To me you stick with your guns and be done with it. I find it very hard to fathom that England can’t go into a Test match without a spinner. To me it’s a throwback to the West Indies when they played four magnificent quick bowlers, but they still had Roger Harper to back them up. I’m totally bewildered by it. I have respect for the England coach Duncan Fletcher but I just worry about the strategy.”

The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth team registered their second win on English soil on Wednesday when they defeated a Reading Under-19 side by 127 runs.The “Downunders”, to give their nickname, made 234 for 8 in their fifty overs, Barry Weare from Queensland top scoring with 67.In reply the Reading side was dismissed for 107, Baden Richter taking 4/22 and Kevin Thomas 3/15.This was the Downunders’ third match on their tour of England, which in part re-traces the steps of the first Aboriginal touring team of 1868, which was the first representative cricket team from Australia to visit England. The team consists entirely of promising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players under the age of 21.In their two previous matches on tour, the Downunders, coached by former Australian off-spinner Ashley Mallett, lost to an MCC side at the Lord’s Nursery Ground before defeating a young Kent eleven.They spend a day at The Oval tomorrow watching the Fifth Test between Australia and England, their next match being against the Whitclintians Under-19s at Croydon, in south London.

It was cricket at its one-sided worst. Sri Lanka arrogantly decided to bowlfirst on a shirtfront of a pitch and swept through a paper-thin Bangladeshline-up in double quick time before their batsmen went on a greedy run spreeat the Sinhalese Sports Club on Thursday.Sponsors, broadcasters and spectators (who had at least been enticed withfree entrance) had expected as much and stayed well away from an Asian TestChampionship match that was always going to attract little interest so soonafter Sri Lanka’s 2-1 Test series win against India.For the sadistically minded cricket fan there were moments to cherish,including yet another five-wicket haul by Muttiah Muralitharan, blistering89 off 56 balls from Sanath Jayasuriya and an elegant 99 not out from MarvanAtapattu but, all-in-all, there would have been greater tension at animpromptu softball game on Galle Face Green.Sri Lanka bowled out Bangladesh for just 90 runs in 36.4 overs, which wasthe tourist’s lowest total in their short five-Test baptism and the lowestever score made against Sri Lanka in their 112-Test career, before therebatsmen piled up 246 for one in just over three hours of batting, to givethem a daunting 156 run lead at the close.Atapattu had set the tone for the innings with three exquisite cover drivesfor four in the first over of the innings, but it was Jayasuriya who stolethe limelight, as he came close to clobbering one of the all time fastestTest centuries.He reached his fifty off just 35 balls with a pull for six, as second fiftyof the innings came up in just 22 balls and took Sri Lanka into tea on 115without loss after just 15 overs.After the interval in continued in the same disdainful vein before he wastrapped leg-before wicket by off spinner Naimur Rahman for 89 off 56 balls,having hit eleven fours and four sixes, two of which were carved over cover.Bangladesh fought-back bravely in the final two hours of the day and couldhave picked up further wickets if they had not spilled two chances at firstslip off Atapattu.Nevertheless, Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara, who retained the number threeposition despite the inclusion of Michael Vandort earlier in the day, added102 runs for the second wicket.Atapattu finished the day on 99, agonisingly short of his eighth Testcentury and Sangakkara was left on 49 not out. The only ones havingsleepless nights, however, will be the middle order batsmen waiting in thedressing, who may be concerned that they are going to miss out on a chanceto boost their Test averages tomorrow.Bangladesh had started the day in disastrous fashion when they lost threeearly wickets to the new ball: Javed Omar (7) played inside a straightdelivery and edged a simple catch to first slip, Habibul Bashir (4) wascleaned bowled by an inswinger in Vaas’s next over and Aminul Islam (6) wascaught behind off Ruchira Perera’s first ball of the day.Opener Mehrab Hossain and middle order batsman Al Shahriar then staged amini fight back, adding 28 runs for the fourth wicket, before the touristslost four wickets for four runs after the introduction of Muralitharan inthe 19th over of the innings.Al Shahriar (16) edged Muralitharan’s cleverly-disguised arm ball, openerMehrab’s (23) patient resistance ended when he was run out and both NaimurRahman and Khaled Mashud were bowled for ducks in the last over beforelunch.After the interval teenage debutante Mohammad Ashraful held up the home teamwith an entertaining 26, which included three boundaries in one over fromChaminda Vaas, who cruelly greeted the new boy with a succession of shortballs.Nevertheless, Bangladesh’s resistance did not last long and 41 minutes afterlunch the bowlers had their feet up in the balcony, facing the pleasantprospect of two days rest before they are next needed.In the morning Sri Lanka announced three changes to the side that defeatedIndia on Sunday: Russel Arnold made way for debutante Michael Vandort after27 consecutive Tests and fast bowlers Ruchira Perera and RavindraPushpakumara replaced Dulip Liyanage and the injured Dilhara Fernando.Bangladesh made two changes to the side that lost by an innings and 264 runsto Pakistan in the first game of the championship at Multan last week:Ashraful, just 16 years old, came in place of left-arm spinner Enamul Haqueand middle order batsman Al Shahriar, 23, replaced the experienced AkramKhan.