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Saurashtra and Maharashtra played out a draw on Friday in a CoochBehar Trophy contest in the West Zone league, with the latter gainingfive points by virtue of their first innings lead.At Rajkot’s Municipal Stadium, Maharashtra won the toss and werebowled out for 273 late on the opening day. The top ten batters allreached double figures, AS Bhosale top scoring with 58. Saurashtra’sskipper Uday Karavadra, a National Cricket Academy graduate, picked up5/73 with his off spinners.Saurashtra fell away to 200 all out, notwithstanding opener and wicketkeeper AK Dawda’s 75. Maharashta’s own offie, Kashinath Khadkikarbested Karavadra’s figures with a haul of 6/69. The visitors showedno inclination to force an outright result, batting out the third dayto finish on 289/7.

ScorecardA sterling effort from Devendra Bundela, the middle-order batsman, took his side to 207 for 6 on the second day at Indore, 112 runs adrift of Jharkhand’s total. Bundela’s fine innings steadied the ship after Vijay Bharadwaj’s offbreaks and a good spell from Mihir Diwakar, the opening bowler, had disturbed Kerala’s batting lineup. For MP, the success story of the first session was Anand Rajan, the fast bowler, who bagged five wickets on first-class debut.ScorecardSwapnil Asnodkar’s unbeaten 64 took Goa to 121 for 3 after two early strikes before tea from Vineet Jain, Tripura’s opening bowler, had rocked the home side’s top order on the second day at Margoa. Tripura’s total of 309 was due in large part to Timir Chanda, the middle-order batsman, who batted 363 minutes for a dogged 89, and a breezy 41 down the order from Jain. Avinash Aware, the Goan fast bowler, had figures of 5 for 71. Asnodkar had added 64 with Saahil Dhuri at stumps and will look to ensure the first-innings lead.
ScorecardAn unbeaten 59 from Sadagoppan Ramesh, the former India opener, helped Kerala to 121 for 2 at stumps, after Kerala’s bolwers had dismissed Rajasthan for 332 earlier in the day. For the home side, Ajay Jadeja’s vital 67 was the standout innings of the second day, as Kerala’s part-time bowlers combined to rout the tail. Mohammad Aslam, the left-arm spinner, took two wickets before stumps to stem Kerala’s reply, but in Ramesh they had a batsman capable of a big innings.
ScorecardFaiz Fazal and Amit Deshpande put on 86 unbeaten runs to lead Vidarbha’s reply to Orissa’s first innings 382 on the second day’s play at Nagpur. For the tourists, P Patel and Subit Biswal were in good form, stroking fifties to take their side to a very good total, while Pritam Gandhe, the Vidarbha captain, sent down 51 overs of offspin to grab four key wickets. Fazal and Deshpande, who passed his fifty on the stroke of stumps, will need to continue their solid start if Vidarbha seek to press for a result.
ScorecardJagtar Singh’s four-wicket haul left Assam in arrears after Jammu & Kashmir posted 252 on day two at Guwahati, with only J Arunkumar’s unbeaten 40 standing tall amid the rubble. Kavaljit Singh, J&K’s middle-order batsman, top-scored with 76 as the tourists struggled against the Assam spin duo of Anand Katti and A Konwar, who bagged seven wickets between them.
Play to be rescheduled following political problems within the Himachal Pradesh camp.

Close Western Australia 6 for 562 dec and 5 for 244 (Langer 84, North 82*) lead Tasmania 5 for 384 dec (Dighton 101, Watson 139, Marsh 51*) by 422 runs
ScorecardThe run-fest continued at the Bellerive Oval, as 436 were scored for seven wickets on the third day of the Pura Cup match between Tasmania and Western Australia. Tasmania got 192 of those – doubling their overnight total – for the loss of just two wickets, allowing them to declare at 5 for 384, 178 adrift of WA’s first-innings total. By close of play, WA had stretched that lead to 422.Michael Dighton and Shane Watson, the unbeaten batsmen, were the stars for Tasmania. Both notched up hundreds, and put together 194 for the fourth wicket, bailing the team out from a tricky 87 for 3. Dighton made 101 before being trapped in front by Marcus North, the part-time offspinner, while Watson went on to score 139 from 193 balls.Justin Langer led Western Australia’s reply after Tasmania’s bold declaration, scoring 84 in quick time. North then came in and hammered a rapid 82 not out off just 84 balls, inclusive of 10 fours and two sixes, ensuring that WA had enough runs on the board to allow Langer the option of declaring at the overnight total and give his bowlers an entire day to take ten wickets.

The International Cricket Council is considering a proposal to allow teams to appeal against three umpiring decisions per innings, giving captains the right to refer the decisions to the third umpire. The plan is likely to be discussed at the meeting of the ICC Cricket Committee next year.A similar system is already in place in the American National Football League, with teams allowed to `challenge’ two refereeing decisions per half. If it is approved, the proposal would probably go the same way as the ICC’s other recent innovations – the wiring up, via earpieces, of umpires to the stump microphone, and the adjudicating of no-balls by the third umpire – and be trialled in one-dayers. The Evening Standard, a London newspaper, quoted an unnamed source as saying the appeals proposal was “recognised as a serious option”.But some umpires are concerned that the increasing use of technology in making decisions will demote their role in the game. Simon Taufel, the ICC’s Umpire of the Year, told BBC Sport: “I wouldn’t say I’m anti-technology, but I’m cautious about it. Technology is all about replacing the skills of the umpire and I’d like to think I’ve worked my way up this far to employ those skills.”Why de-skill that part of the game just for the sake of an extra two or three correct decisions per game?” he added. “There are undoubtedly pluses, but we need to sit down and stack them against the minuses.”

Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain, has advised Pakistan to prepare bouncy tracks in next month’s home series against India to unnerve the visitors’ strong batting lineup.”The advantage of pitches is with Pakistan, they have a transformed Shoaib Akhtar who can rock the Indians on hard pitches,” he said. Akhtar, considered to be the world’s fastest bowler, took 17 wickets to help Pakistan beat favourites England 2-0 in a Test series early this month.”With his pace and accuracy Akhtar can target any Indian batsman, and more so Sourav Ganguly,” said Akram, who has taken 414 Test wickets and a world-record 502 one-day wickets. Ganguly was selected for the series against Pakistan after his ouster in the last Test match of India’s home series against Sri Lanka created a public furore.Akram said Pakistan would have to play positive cricket to avenge the home series defeat it suffered when India last toured Pakistan in 2004, their first since 1989-90. India won the Test series 2-1 and the one-day series 3-2, their first wins on Pakistani soil since they started playing against their neighbours in 1952. Pakistan, however, salvaged some pride by levelling a three-Test series 1-1 and beating India 4-2 in the one-day series earlier this year in India.The 39-year-old Akram, regarded as the best left-arm paceman to play the game, said Pakistan were better organised under Bob Woolmer than India under Greg Chappell.”Woolmer is now the number one coach in the world, he has infused fighting spirit and consistency in the team which wasn’t Pakistan’s forte two years ago,” Akram said. Akram praised Inzamam-ul-Haq’s captaincy and said he had given confidence to the players. “Now every player knows that his place is secure in the team, if he has the confidence of the captain who is also at his best form.”Inzamam, Akhtar and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria are key to Pakistan’s success,” he said.A five-member Indian security team returned to India on Thursday after inspecting the match venues and a final tour itinerary is likely to be announced shortly. India are scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day games.

ScorecardSuperSport Park in Centurion once again lived up to its reputation as yet another game ended in excitement – the Eagles prevailed in a close fight with the Titans by a margin of three wickets with two balls to go.Set a target of 265, the Eagles got off to a flier with Morne van Wyk and Jonathan Beukus putting on 82 in the first 12 overs. When Beukus was out for 31, Benjamin Hector came to the crease. Though wickets fell around him regularly, he raced away to score 98 not out off 89 balls to secure the win for the Eagles.A maiden hundred from Alviro Petersen (115 not out) and a 50 from Justin Kemp, along with a 53-run partnership in the final five overs from Albie Morkel and Petersen gave the Titans the impetus to post a competitive total of 264 for 4.
ScorecardAt Newlands in Cape Town an undefeated 101 from Andrew Puttick could not save Western Province Boland as the Dolphins ran away to a 33-run win.A 92 from Dale Benkenstein averted the Dolphins’s embarrassment as they limped to 225 for 5. Imraan Khan, Doug Watson and Jon Kent could not convert good starts, and it was left to Benkenstein and Lance Klusener (24 not out) to pick up the pieces. They did that adequately, putting on 59 in the last seven overs.On a pitch where 226 was achievable, WPB struggled. The innings never got off the ground as wickets fell around Puttick. Applying himself, he played with ease but could not find a willing partner. Henry Davids, the next best on 24, tried hard but in the end a lack of application cost WPB dearly.

Damien Martyn has called the Wanderers ground in Johannesburg a “special venue” that Australia “loves” playing at despite expectations of a fierce welcome in the tour-opening Twenty20 match on Friday. A sponsor’s gimmick will give the first 20,000 people into the ground “hard hats” for the match and the Australians are prepared for abuse after Mark Boucher’s comments that he hoped the home crowds “give them some stick”.Australia’s most recent match at Johannesburg, which is known as The Bullring, was the 2003 World Cup final victory over India and Martyn, who scored an unbeaten 88, said the ground carried fond memories. “The last time we were out in the middle we were celebrating and singing the team song,” Martyn told . “It’s always going to be a special venue for all the guys that were here that night. We love playing here. It’s like touring sides playing at the MCG and SCG – big ground, a lot of noise. The crowd is fantastic.”Twenty20 matches have become a regular way of starting tours and Martyn, who scored 98 off 55 in the victory over South Africa at the Gabba last month, said the format was enjoyable. “We really just try to play a positive game,” he said. “It’s more get out there and run around and put on a good spectacle for the crowd.”South Africa have named their team and recalled two old faces and selected two debutants in the warm-up for the five-match one-day series starting at Centurion on Sunday. Neil McKenzie, who has not been picked in an ODI since October 2003, and Roger Telemachus, whose last match was in 2002, have earned returns while the batsman Loots Bosman and offspinner Thandi Tshabalala get their first international experiences.Telemachus told the agency he did not expect a call-up and said he was “putting a few fingers up the noses” of critics. “All of a sudden people were saying that I’m old and I can’t compete on the cricket field any more,” he said. “I know who they are and they know who they are.”Bosman will open the batting with Graeme Smith instead of Boeta Dippenaar while Tshabalala will be a slow-bowling option alongside Robin Peterson. Ricky Ponting has not named his side, but Shane Watson is expected to come in for Michael Hussey, who has stayed in Australia to be with his pregnant wife.South Africa Graeme Smith (capt), Loots Bosman, AB de Villiers (wk), Herschelle Gibbs, Neil McKenzie, Justin Kemp, Andrew Hall, Robin Peterson, Roger Telemachus, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath, Makhaya Ntini.Australia squad Adam Gilchrist (wk), Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Mick Lewis.

International matches will be played at the Gabba next summer after XXXX, Queensland Cricket’s long-term sponsor, agreed to remove signs to their beach cricket series. Cricket Australia, who is backed by a rival brewer, wanted each state to sign a sponsorship agreement to avoid ambush marketing at the stadiums or they would be ineligible to host games.Queensland Cricket reached an agreement this afternoon following an emergency meeting with the beer company, which has sponsored the state association since 1993. “XXXX put the interests of the cricket-loving public ahead of their commercial interest,” Graham Dixon, the Queensland Cricket chief executive, said. “We had been working towards this for a number of months with a view to meeting next week’s deadline imposed by Cricket Australia and were disappointed that this final stage was played out in the media.”Queensland Cricket will be required to “partially compensate” XXXX for the loss of the rights. “All the states can focus on whether the broader policy that we are being asked to sign is in the best interests of state cricket or whether it will undermine our ability to attract sponsorship revenue and ultimately affect grassroots cricket,” Dixon said.Dixon denied claims the issue revolved around ambush marketing by XXXX against one of Cricket Australia’s main sponsors. “It is difficult to imagine how a company which has backed cricket in this state to the tune of $10 million over a period of more than 13 years and has iron-clad legal entitlements to display signage at the home of the game in Queensland could be accused of ambush marketing,” he said.”XXXX Gold Beach Cricket is clearly differentiated from any Cricket Australia competition and therefore cannot possibly be ambush marketing.” The series features retired players from Australia – the Cricket Australia director Allan Border is the captain – England and West Indies in a modified game on the sand and is telecast by Channel Ten.

The Asian Cricket Council looks set to take control of organising an international match to raise money for victims of the Asian earthquake.Although the plans are in the embryo stage, Shaharyar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said: “During a recent conversation with Jagmohan Dalmiya [ACC president], an ACC-sponsored relief match was considered. We agreed to examine possible dates for an international match in the next few days.”The ICC had considered organising a relief match for the Super Series in Sydney, but players from South Africa and New Zealand were unavailable and there wasn’t enough time to organise sponsorship and TV rights.The PCB and the England & Wales Cricket Board recently agreed to dedicate the entire gate receipts of the first ODI between the two countries at Lahore on December 10 to the relief fund.

A top Indian board (BCCI) official today refuted allegations that the Asian bloc had entered into an understanding with the West Indies to bag the rights to host the 2011 World Cup at a recent ICC meeting.The West Indies voted for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but in return the BCCI agreed to play a triangular series at a neutral venue to help raise funds for the Caribbean islands in the lead up to the 2007 World Cup, media reports had said.IS Bindra, a BCCI Marketing Committee member and a former president, rebutted the charges. “We playing the West Indies in North America or the Caribbean had nothing to do with the World Cup bid,” Bindra said. “It was part of the ongoing scheme of playing 25 matches against top teams at neutral venues over a period of five years. Playing in North America would benefit the Caribbean because there is a considerable expatriate population there [North America].”There was no quid pro quo for their support. They voted for us because they thought it was in the best interest of world cricket, and it was morally right, that the 2011 World Cup be held in the subcontinent. We had jointly fought in 1987 when we got the World Cup moved out of England.”Bindra also denied former ICC president Malcolm Gray’s allegation that the subcontinent won the bid by flexing its money muscle. “It was they who had the veto, from 1909 when the ICC was formed to 1993,” Bindra said. “We have always acted like equal partners.”Bindra said he was questioned by the ICC members at the executive board meeting in Dubai earlier this week “for half an hour” when he told them the 2011 World Cup, if held in the subcontinent, would generate USD 400 million more. “I told them that the ICC makes USD two million from a match day whereas we make USD 8.77 million, which is more than four times. The ICC sold the television rights [of 2003 WC] to India for USD 250 million and for seven-eight million USD to Australia.”Asia won the bid to host the 2011 World Cup overcoming a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand by ten votes to three.