Punjab defeated hosts Assam convincingly by ten wickets with 38.5 overs to spare in the first round of the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women’s National Championship at the JDSA Ground in Jorhat on Monday. The winners moved into the quarterfinals.Chasing a meagre target of 93 for victory, Punjab captain Gulshan (59 runs of 33 balls) and Anjuman Bassi (21 runs of 17 balls) made short work of Assam’s bowling and reached their objective in the eleventh over. With her partner playing second fiddle, Gulshan plundered the attack from the word go and hit 12 boundaries.Earlier, winning the toss and electing to bat, Assam were given a decent start with openers Rumi Boro (11 runs of 24 balls) and Rupa Begum (33 runs of 89 balls) putting on 24 runs off five overs. Then Assam lost four quick wickets and were gasping for breath at 32 for five. They continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and were all out in 39.5 overs. Besides the openers, only Suchitra Singh (17) reached double digits. Assam’s inadequate total of 92 was boosted by as many as 21 extras. Punjab’s Sandeep (4 for 9 of 8 overs) was easily the best bowler.

Western Australia has today defeated West Indies by a margin of seven wickets in the teams’ first-class match at the WACA ground in Perth. The triumph, which came half an hour into the post-lunch session, was clinched when Test hopefuls Damien Martyn (25*) and Simon Katich (18*) added an unbroken stand of thirty-six runs following a shaky start to their team’s second innings.The locals’ final day effort put the seal on a game upon which they had held a strong grip from the time that they consigned the tourists to the paltry total of 132 on a good wicket for batting on the opening day. Nonetheless, the closing stages of the contest still featured more of the spirit and defiance that the West Indians had shown yesterday in their own second innings with the bat.After they were finally dismissed for a total of 293, the tourists this time showed renewed resolve with the ball. In the hour before lunch, pacemen Mervyn Dillon (2/37) and Marlon Black (1/17) struck three times, reducing their opponents to a mark of 3/34 at one point as they set out after the modest target of sixty-eight for victory.Having apparently taken a lead from opening batsman Sherwin Campbell’s gritty century yesterday, the two pacemen produced an inspired display burst before the interval, removing quality batsmen Adam Gilchrist (6), Justin Langer (5) and Mike Hussey (11) in quick succession.Gilchrist made his fatal error when he drove a Dillon delivery to short cover; Langer, having been comprehensively beaten by the previous ball as well, departed after outside-edging when Black slanted one across him; and Hussey, following several nice drives down the ground, succumbed after chasing a wide ball from Dillon. It was all enough to give the West Indians a look of real enthusiasm and spirit in the field, a mood that could have been buoyed even further if Jimmy Adams had been able to grasp a half-volleyed chance at third slip to help remove Martyn for a pair.Earlier, the Western Australians had been able to mop up the remains of the West Indian second innings relatively efficiently. Once Tom Moody (4/14) had found the outside edge of the bat of the stubborn Adams (44) to send a low, brilliantly taken chance to Martyn at slip, the end came speedily. Ramnaresh Sarwan (12) fell when playing across the line at the rampant Moody, and Colin Stuart (6) lost his wicket when he scooped up a dipping Brendon Julian (2/58) full toss to square leg.The visitors now move on to Alice Springs for a one-day match against a Northern Territory Invitational XI on Wednesday, and then to Melbourne for their last first-class match prior to the opening Test on this Australian visit. For the Western Australians, their opening first-class victory of the summer should serve as an excellent spur for two upcoming matches later in the week against Tasmania in Hobart.

Rajasthan Police on Tuesday expressed its ignorance about thewhereabouts of former cricket all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar and deniedhaving received any request from its counterpart in Uttaranchal orDelhi to nab him.”We have recieved no formal request from the Uttaranchal Police. Thestate police is having no information of Prabhakar being in Jaipur,”Additional Director General of Rajasthan Police NN Meena told PTI.Ever since a non-bailable arrest warrant against Prabhakar was issuedby a court in Haldwani in Uttaranchal in connection with an allegedfraud in a chit fund company, the cricketer, who also figured in thematch-fixing scandal, has been untraceable, according to police.Media reports quoting his family members said Prabhakar was in Jaipuron a business tour. He had visited Jaipur a few times recently inconnection with his business.Uttaranchal Police had said on Monday that it would take steps todeclare Prabhakar as a proclaimed offender if he does not surrender oris not arrested by Delhi Police pursuant to a non-bailable warrantissued against him.”We are still waiting for a formal reply from Delhi Police regardingthe non-bailable warrant against Manoj Prabhakar. In case he is notarrested, then we would declare him a proclaimed offender underSection 82 of the CrPC,” Uttaranchal Director General of Police AshokKant Sharan had said.Sharan also indicated that the property of Prabhakar, who purportedlyis a managing director of a defunct finance company in Haldwani in thestate, would be attached if he failed to surrender before the court,which has also ordered to testify the signatures of Prabhakar in thescam.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine named the following squad of 12 for the CricInfo Championship match against Surrey at The Oval starting on Wednesday:Jamie Cox, Piran Holloway, Mike Burns, Peter Bowler, Mark Lathwell, Rob Turner, Peter Trego,Keith Dutch, Richard Johnson, Matthew Bulbeck, Steffan Jones and Ian Blackwell.”Richard Johnson has come through two days of intensive tests without any problems and is 90% certain of playing. However as cover we are taking fast bowler Joe Tucker, who had such a super game for the seconds last week with us,” said the coach.

A day after the comprehensive eight-wicket win against Zimbabwe in thefirst Test, every member of the Indian cricket team was savouringIndia’s first Test victory outside the sub-continent in 15 years whichhad a different significance for each of them.For the senior members of the team like Sachin Tendulkar and JavagalSrinath, who have been in international cricket for a number of yearsnow, the win hasn’t come a day too early.”It is very thrilling. I hope it starts from here,” said Tendulkar whoplayed a major role in the victory with knocks of 74 and 36 not out inthe two innings. “I would not like to compare it with any other Testwin. But the boys are sticking together and it is a great sign. I hopeit stays this way,” he said.Srinath, who took four wickets in the match, was more sombre. “Thiswin was overdue. It was time we succeeded. We lost out on winningquite a few close games in the last few years. It is time we make upfor those lost opportunities.”For Sourav Ganguly this was the fifth Test win in seven matches ascaptain and the stylish left-hander was obviously jubilant and echoedSrinath’s views.”There were occasions in the past when we came quite close to winning.There are so many Tests I can remember. There was one in Johannesburg,then Barbados, Wellington. Indeed Barbados was the saddest. We neededjust 120 runs to win the game and couldn’t do it,” he said trying toput the victory in proper perspective.Vice-captain Rahul Dravid was cautious in his hour of joy. “I am veryhappy at the moment. But there is still a lot of cricket to be playedin the next one year. We have to keep our feet on the ground.”For the younger lot, the victory was a continuation of thecelebrations that started with the stunning series win againstAustralia back home.Wicket-keeper Samir Dighe, who came up with another determined battingdisplay following his match-winning performance in the Chennai Testagainst the Australians, was very happy that he could contributetowards India’s win.”I am very fortunate that I have played two Tests so far and India haswon both the games. It is a great satisfaction that I could play arole in the victory,” Dighe, who made 47 runs in the first innings,said.Similarly, Harbhajan Singh, hero of the series win against Australia,made a fine contribution both with bat and ball. “I am happy I am amember of this team,” was all that he could say.Having won the match inside four days, the Indians could afford torelax today. Even coach John Wright, the hard taskmaster that he is,had no objections. “They have earned a break,” he said.The Indians declined an offer of a safari from Zimbabwe captain HeathStreak who also invited them to visit his farmhouse in the afternoonand were more keen to catch the evening flight for Harare where thesecond Test starts on Thursday.The Indians had a joint dinner at the hotel restaurant last eveningand the celebrations continued late into the night. The secretary ofthe Board of Control for Cricket in India Jaywant Lele was the firstone to call up and congratulate the team for its fine performance.However, amidst all the partying the team was well aware that the winwas just a start and the Indians had a hectic schedule abroad for therest of the year during which they need to continue the good work.”There is still a lot of cricket left in this tour and then over thenext one year. We must retain our focus,” Tendulkar said.Srinath said the task was only half over. “We must not forget there isstill a Test left in this series. We must not lose our overallobjective in this moment of victory – and that is to win the series2-0.”A final note of caution came from team manager Chetan Chauhan. “Wecan’t afford to be complacent. The Zimbabweans have it in them tobounce back.”

India continued their run of success in the triangular tournament,with a six-wicket victory over West Indies, who found themselves twowickets down after three overs on a flat but sluggish pitch, and werenever in the game thereafter.On another clear Bulawayo morning, India won the toss again and putWest Indies in. Perhaps the move was due to some suspicion of earlylife in the pitch, although in the present dry conditions that waslikely to be minimal, and also because they are playing apredominantly seam attack, resting Harbhajan Singh.West Indies lost Chris Gayle (0) in the second over, trapped back onthe crease without footwork and lbw to seamer Harvinder Singh,recalled to the Indian team after a long absence. Daren Ganga (2)followed, caught in the covers off a leading edge to DebashishMohanty, and West Indies were reeling at 2 for two wickets, with thebowlers finding a good amount of swing, even if the pitch gave themlittle help.Wavell Hinds and Shivnarine Chanderpaul struggled against goodbowling, most of their runs coming in quick singles. Eventually Hinds(9), frustrated, lashed out at Mohanty and gave Reetinder Sodhi hissecond catch in the covers. Chanderpaul (10) followed a ball fromHarvinder that moved away, edged to the keeper, and at 26 for fourWest Indies appeared virtually out of the match. Mohanty’s openingspell of seven overs cost just 8 runs for two wickets. Sharp Indianfielding also kept the runs to the minimum.After 20 overs West Indies were only 33 for four, but then Carl Hooperdecided to open up more. He hit Zaheer Khan high over his head forfour but, tied down, hit the same bowler to mid-on to be caught for14. In the 25th over, West Indies were in desperate need of a miracleat 47 for five.They didn’t get one, but at least Marlon Samuels played a calm,responsible innings, ably assisted by Ridley Jacobs. The pair added72 most commendably in 92 balls before Mohanty returned to break thestand, having Samuels (44) caught at deepish mid-on. MahendraNagamootoo (17) continued the good work until he was out to a finefull-stretch return catch by Khan, just before Jacobs reached aninvaluable fifty off 69 balls.Mohanty finished with three for 18 off his ten overs, and India neverreally lost their control, hard though the West Indian lower ordertried. Jacobs, as he has done so often, held it all together, thistime with 53 not out, and West Indies finished on 169 for seven.India began their reply quietly, almost somnolently, scoring just 24without loss in the first ten overs. The West Indian bowling was notparticularly threatening but it was accurate enough to restrict thescoring, especially Cameron Cuffy, and Sachin Tendulkar was againsurprisingly restrained; he did not reach double figures until the14th over but had less than his share of the bowling.Sourav Ganguly (20) was first to go, controversially given out caughtdown the leg side. Cuffy completed his ten overs for just 20 runs,taking one wicket, the next one falling ironically to the erraticWavell Hinds, who had Dinesh Mongia (8) caught at the wicket. RahulDravid began with a sweetly timed drive through midwicket for three,but had added only a single when he unexpectedly came down the pitchto Mahendra Nagamootoo to be ‘gated’ and stumped.Tendulkar on 46 appeared to have a fortunate escape from being givenout caught at the wicket off Hooper. Soon afterwards he reached hisfifty off 86 balls. He then began to open up and the remaining WestIndian hopes disappeared rapidly. Badani scored 27 before he skied areturn catch to Mervyn Dillon, but Virender Shewag (11) stayed withTendulkar (81) until victory was completed without pressure and withmore than six overs to spare.

After taking four wickets in the pre-lunch session, Glamorgan must have fancied their chances of recording their second Championship win of the season. But two missed chances, and stubborn half-centuries by TonyPenberthy and Russell Warren allowed Northamptonshire to stave off defeat and the game, on a wearing Cardiff wicket, ended in a draw as Northamptonshire reached 349 for 7 in their second innings after following on.As in the visitors first innings, Robert Croft was Glamorgan’s main wicket-taker, with Croft taking 5 for 96 during a marathon spell of 57 overs in the Northants second innings. The off-spinner had a spell of 4-11 in the morning session as Northants slipped from their 126-0 at the start of play to 176-4 at the interval.In his fifth over of the day, Croft broke the opening partnership as Adrian Rollins edged a ball to Jimmy Maher at first slip. In the next couple of overs, Mike Hussey went on the offensive against Croft, twice hitting him to the cover boundary, but shortly afterwards, Croft gained his revenge as the Australian chopped the ball onto his stumps as he attempted a cut.Three balls later Russell Warren survived a stumping chance, but Croft was back in the wickets soon afterwards as Mal Loye mistimed a drive and was caught by Steve James at mid-off. Then a couple of overs later, Croft induced a leading edge from Alex Swann, and as he celebrated his fourth wicket, Croft and the rest of the Glamorgan team must have been sensing victory.However, Glamorgan were thwarted during the afternoon session by a stubborn partnership of 94 in 20 overs by Russell Warren and Tony Penberthy, although Warren had a second life when on 28 he survived a stumping chance off Dean Cosker. Undeterred by the turning wicket, Penberthy and Warren continued to punish the odd loose ball, until on 60 Penberthy edged Cosker into the hands of Jimmy Maher at slip.Glamorgan’s slim hopes of victory were briefly raised after tea when Adrian Dale claimed a wicket in his first over, as he trapped Graeme Swann leg before. But Warren remained defiant at the other end, and he eventually reached his patient half-century off 143 balls.Having guided his side to safety, Warren’s long vigil finally ended when on 77 he pushed forward to Croft and got a thin edge to the keeper. This gave Croft his fifth and final wicket of the innings, plus the splendid match figures of 10 for 191 – his first ten wicket haul of the season, and the fourth of his county career.Despite not being able to force a victory, Glamorgan will be able to take great heart from Croft’s performance, his 90.3 overs in thematch, and his innings of 93. Having spent much of the past month with the England one-day squad, Croft had only bowled 84 overs before this match in Championship cricket with just 4 first-class wickets to his name. If the England selectors need an in-form spinner for the forthcoming Ashes series, Croft has more than stated his fine credentials.

After having their first two matches washed out by the bad weather Somerset Under 17’s eventually got their season underway when they travelled to play Dorset Under 17’s at Bournemouth Sports Club.Somerset won the toss and put Dorset in to bat first. The home side scored 33 for 7 declared, with Miles Weber ending with 2 for 40 from his 12 overs.When Somerset batted they were all out for 270, of which opener Simon Green made an impressive 102,and Daryl Cox 59.By the end of the second day had Dorset had reached 176 for 9 with spin bowler Paul Short taking 4 for 45.Dorset won the match on first innings and take 20 points to Somerset’s 10 points.

Premier 1 (50 overs)Bashley (Rydal) 287-2 (22pts) (Sexton 182, Thurgood 61, Loader 36)
Andover 202 (5pts) (R Miller 83, Keighley 28, King 4-41, Taylor 3-48)
Bashley (Rydal) won by 85 runsBournemouth 112 (2pts) (Waite 28, Goldstraw 3-19)
BAT Sports 113-4 (20pts) (Kenway 43, Banks 37)
BAT Sports won by 6 wicketsHavant 144-8 (5pts) (Hindley 30, Loat 23, Draper 3-29)
Calmore Sports 148-8 (18pts) (Surry 40, Hibberd 28, Pegler 26, Hindley 4-27)
Calmore Sports won by 2 wicketsHungerford 111 (2pts) (Dawkins 31, Jenkins 4-14)
Burridge 114-4 (20pts) (Cunningham 52, Dixon 27)
Burridge won by 6 wicketsSouth Wilts 224-7 (21pts) (Lamb 80, Steedon 50, Wade 37)
Liphook & Ripsley 150 (5pts) (Smyth 29, Barnes 27, Rowe 3-34)
South Wilts won by 74 runsPremier 2 (50 overs)Cove 72 (2pts) (Douglas 4-7, Donaldson 3-27)
Trojans 73-5 (19pts) (Le Bas 24, Ashton 3-21)
Trojans won by 5 wicketsEaston & Martyr Worthy 226-6 (22pts) (St Green 77, Butcher 41, A Birch 31)
Hambledon 168 (5pts) (Le Clerq 38, Magrath 26, St Green 6-30)
Easton & Martyr Worthy won by 58 runsOld Basing 61 (0pts) (Braithwaite 3-4)
United Services 62-1 (21pts) (Toogood 20, McKeever 20)
United Services won by 9 wicketsOld Tauntonians & Romsey 246-8 (22pts) (Smith 71, N Stotart 59, Forward 42, Treagus 3-37)
Lymington 81 (4pts) (G Stotart 4-22, Morjaria 4-31)
Old Tauntonians & Romsey won by 165 runsSparsholt 108 (0pts) (Gunyon 33, Prittipaul 3-19)
Portsmouth 111-0 (22pts) (Prittipaul 79)
Portsmouth won by 10 wicketsPremier 3 (50 overs)Bashley (Rydal) II 128 (5pts)
Leckford 129-9 (18pts)
Leckford won by 1 wicketGosport Borough 113-8 (2pts) (Burns 3-29)
Hursley Park 114-4 (19pts) (Halder 39, Regan 3-42)
Hursley Park won by 6 wicketsLymington II 107 (2pts) (Coles 22, Pike 4-15, Bellchamber 3-16)
Portsmouth II 108-4 (20pts) (Pike 33, Moon 28)
Portsmouth won by 6 wicketsNew Milton 178 (7pts) (Watts 42, Richman 4-57)
Paultons 179-9 (20pts) (James 39, Mitchell 26)
Paultons won by 1 wicketRowledge 217-5 (21pts) (Harland 39, R Yates 37, C Yates 29, Shephard 4-52)
Waterlooville 57 (2pts) (C Yates 4-8, Eichler 3-14)
Rowledge won by 160 runsPurbrook 150 (19pts) (McCoy 32, Openshaw 3-33)
Havant II 140 (6pts) (Jones 44, Wade 35, McCoy 4-19, Hunter 3-39)
Purbrook won by ten runsSt Cross Symondians 225-6 (22pts)
Hook & Newnham Basics 86 (3pts)
St Cross Symondians won by 139 runsUnited Services II 121 (1pt) (Kitching 37, McMurray 4-31, Hitchings 3-23)
Flamingo 125-2 (22pts) (Fengian 47, Latouf 28)
Flamingo won by 8 wicketsWinchester KS 175-8 (20pts) (Naik 50, Taylor 35, Jackson 4-27, Rotherham 3-51)
Alton 127 (5pts) (M Heffernan 29, Ballinger 26, Oxley 5-26, Taylor 3-20)
Winchester KS won by 48 runs

* KSCA XI struggle against ONGCOn a rain affected day, Karnataka State Cricket Association XI lostwickets at regular intervals and were 187 for seven off 41.3 overs atclose on the first day of their Coromandel Cement Cup quarterfinalagainst Oil & Natural Gas Corporation at the MaharajaJayachamarajendra Wodeyar Sports Complex in Bangalore on Sunday.Winning the toss, KSCA were off to a poor start with RowlandBarrington being out for a duck to the first ball he faced. MithunBeerala (38) and Deepak Chougule (29) steadied the innings with asecond wicket partnership of 69 runs off 13.3 overs. Then after fourwickets had gone down for 99 runs, two former India players VijayBhardwaj (25) and Sunil Joshi (28) added 50 runs for the fifth wicketoff 12.2 overs. But then both left in successive overs andwicketkeeper RC Shanbal (3) also left soon as KSCA slipped to 155 forseven. Skipper Anil Kumble (4) and David Johnson (28) however sharedan unbroken eighth wicket stand of 32 runs off just four overs.Johnson played a bright little innings, facing only 17 balls andhitting four fours and a six. Among the bowlers, Sharandeep Singh (3for 58) and skipper Shamshad (2 for 39) did the most to restrict theKSCA score.The match started only at 12.20 due to the wet conditions of theground caused by overnight rain. Play was stopped due to rain at 3.40and finally called off for the day at 4.30.* Yalvigi keeps KSCA Colts in checkOff spinner Anand Yalvigi turned in a fine performance at the RSIground in Bangalore on Sunday. Playing for Roofit XI, Mumbai, he tookfour wickets for 38 runs off 20 overs to help restrict KSCA Colts to200 for eight in 71.4 overs on a rain affected first day’s play in theCoromandel Cement Cup quarterfinal.Winning the toss, KSCA Colts started badly losing KS Ponnappa (5) at13. Wicketkeeper and opening batsman BMV Uthappa (69) and KM Aiyappa(35) shared a second wicket partnership of 91 runs off 22.4 overs toset the innings back on track. Uthappa faced 123 balls and hit eightfours. He was third out at 125 in the 35th over. Yalvigi dismissedboth the batsmen and then struck again in the middle order. Wicketsfell at regular intervals but AR Mahesh stood firm and at close wasbatting with a watchful 32 off 101 balls with four hits to the ropes.K Adhav gave good support to Yalvigi by capturing two wickets for 49runs.The match started at 10 due to the dampness of the pitch. Raininterrupted play at 3.50 and play was finally called off for the dayat 4.30.* Mishra, Goud prop up BPL Sports ClubValuable contributions by opening batsman Adithya Mishra and skipperYere Goud saw BPL Sports Club score 176 for five off 54.5 overs on thefirst day of their Coromandel Cement Cup quarterfinal againstChemplast at the Central college grounds in Bangalore on Sunday.Winning the toss, BPL Sports Club were given a good start with openersAdithya Mishra (68) and Mohit Goyal (6) putting on 72 runs off 14.3overs. As the scores indicate, Mishra dominated the partnership. Hefaced only 52 balls and hit eleven fours and two sixes and was firstout. Goyal who struggled for two hours and 77 balls was second out at99 in the 30th over. K Sriram (0) fell in the next over. But Goud, whocame in at No 3 and N Mulki (25) added 48 runs for the fourth wicketoff 18 overs. KN Ramesh (12) was fifth out at 173 but Goud carried ontill close of play. The veteran right hander batted for 157 minutes,faced 109 balls and hit eight fours. Ramkumar was the pick of theChemplast bowlers picking up four wickets for 50 runs off 21.5 overs.The match started at 10 due to wet conditions caused by overnight rainPlay was halted by rain at 3.45 and was called off for the day at4.25.* Vinay Kumar, Yadav in 154-run partnershipPut in to bat, Hyderabad Cricket Association did well in getting 303for nine wickets in the allotted 90 overs on the first day of theirCoromandel Cement Cup quarterfinal against India Pistons at theGangothri Glades ground in Mysore on Sunday.Openers Daniel Manohar (29) and skipper A Nand Kishore (67) gave HCA agood start putting on 65 runs off 32.4 overs. Anirudh Singh (4) didnot last long but then Nand Kishore and Vinay Kumar added 37 runs forthe third wicket. Nand Kishore was then out, after batting 223minutes, facing 129 balls and hitting three fours and six. HCA reallyconsolidated through a fourth wicket partnership of 154 runs off 28.3overs between Vinay Kumar and AS Yadav. The latter dominated hitting87 from 89 balls with the help of nine fours and a six. Medium pacerTinu Yohannan who bowled Yadav then got among the wickets and HCA slidfrom 271 for three in 82 overs to their final total. In the processthey lost six wickets for 29 runs off 6.3 overs. Yohannan picked upfive of the wickets and finished with five for 42 off 17 overs. VinayKumar however remained unbeaten with 81. He batted 198 minutes, faced153 balls and hit the ball to the ropes four times.