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Division One

Michael Carberry was in the runs for Hampshire•Getty Images

Michael Carberry led a formidable Hampshire response to Warwickshire’s hefty total of 484 for 7 declared, as he finished the third day at Southampton with an unbeaten 184 from 243 balls, in a total of 309 for 1. After Jonathan Trott had partnered Chris Woakes to his maiden first-class century in the morning session, Carberry responded with an opening partnership of 261 with Jimmy Adams, who fell ten runs short of his century when Ian Westwood struck to claim only the fifth first-class wicket of his career.On the day that Justin Langer became the leading Australian run-scorer in first-class cricket, his county side Somerset built on his efforts with the bat to move into a commanding position against Worcestershire at New Road. Langer’s second century of the summer allowed him to declare on 428 for 6, whereupon Worcestershire drifted to 164 for 6 at the close, still trailing by 264 runs with a day of the match remaining. Plenty rests on the shoulders of the wicketkeeper, Steve Davies, who is their top-scorer on 40 not out overnight.Click here for John Ward’s report of the third day’s play between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire at Scarborough.

Division Two

Owais Shah single-handedly kept Middlesex afloat at Derby with a masterful century to save his side from collapse against Derbyshire’s seamers, led by Graham Wagg, who took 5 for 88. Shah, who had come to the crease after the early dismissal of Sam Robson, finished unbeaten on 129 out of a total of 226. He struck 21 fours from 182 balls, in an innings in which his only lasting support came from the No. 11, Alan Richardson, who made 18. In reply, Derbyshire capitalised on their slender advantage by reaching 138 for 2 in their second innings, with Chris Rogers cracking 76 from 82 balls.Matt Walker completed his first first-class century of the season, and James Foster chipped in with 85, as Essex piled on the runs at Grace Road before claiming three Leicestershire wickets in the space of 18 overs before the close. The match seems doomed to a draw after the loss of the entire first day’s play, although Walker’s unbeaten 116 gave them enough runs to keep up the pressure with the ball. Tony Palladino struck twice in his first spell and David Masters once, as Leicestershire slipped to 27 for 3, before a partial recovery before the close.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outYounis Khan supported his bowlers by taking two wickets•AFP

Pakistan had a day of typical Pakistani cricket. Two of their debutants got them off to a great start, but sloppy fielding and a failure to keep a lid on the scoring meant they hadn’t run away with the game. The Sri Lankan batsmen, although never entirely comfortable in the middle, kept counterattacking, getting quick runs, making sure they got themselves a fighting total on a pitch that offered movement to bowlers of both variety.If Pakistan were slightly ahead at the end of the innings, the last half hour, when Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara took a wicket each, made sure the match was as balanced as it was when it started.Like 17-year-olds should, Mohammad Aamer sprung suddenly on Sri Lanka, taking two wickets in his first two overs. Like hardened domestic sloggers should, the 30-year-old Abdur Rauf came back to do the repair work, taking out beneficiaries of early dropped chances – Tharanga Paranavitana and Mahela Jayawardene. Even before he surprised Sri Lanka by breaking two threatening partnerships, Younis Khan had read the pitch well, played three fast bowlers, and chosen to field first.Aamer vindicated the decision right away, following his first-over success on Twenty20 international debut with the wicket of Malinda Warnapura in his first over in Tests. Right from the first over Aamer got the ball to move both ways, bowling regularly in the mid-130s.Warnapura hadn’t looked comfortable, lofting Aamer unconvincingly, barely over mid-on. The next ball was shorter, moving in sharply, cramping him, and taking the bottom edge onto the stumps. If it was the inward movement that got Warnapura, the away movement should have got Paranavitana in his next over. The batsman was on 1 then. That didn’t deter Aamer from getting new Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara to edge through to third slip in the next over.Between those two events Paranavitana got another life, ballooning Umar Gul to regulation short leg, but Khurram Manzoor was placed deeper. In Aamer’s next over Kamran Akmal dropped a sitter from Jayawardene. The two looked like they would punish Pakistan bad. Their partnership moved swiftly, Paranavitana attacking off the front foot, and getting a couple of edges through the slip cordon. Jayawardene, though not always the elegant self, looked threatening.Paranavitana was particularly severe. When he hit back-to-back boundaries in Aamer’s fifth over, cutting one through gully and then whipping a half volley past midwicket, he had crossed his previous best of 21, with five fours. Longer spells from fast bowlers were not possible in hot and humid conditions, and Younis had to rotate his bowlers, even bowl himself.Paranavitana got to his half-century with another big over, taking 11 off Rauf, and reached the landmark in just 67 deliveries. Rauf, though, had another twist up his cocked wrist, getting the ball to hold its line beautifully and getting an edge from a set Jayawardene, nine minutes from lunch.Rauf’s first spell had promised such events. He bowled with an upright seam, getting movement away from the batsmen, and also good bounce. He came back, and along with the third debutant, Saeed Ajmal, created pressure. Then came an effort ball, moving away from Paranavitana sharply, and getting big on him.Younis came back for a second spell and bowled a beauty Rauf would have been proud of, to get an edge from Thilan Samaraweera. Tillakaratne Dilshan and another debutant, Angelo Mathews, known better for their limited-overs cricket, went on another counterattack. In the 5.4 overs leading up to tea the two added 34, but the first ball after claimed Dilshan. He looked to force Aamer through gully, and spooned a catch.At 194 for 6, with Gul reversing the ball, Sri Lanka seemed in a precarious state. But the day was not meant for slowing down, and Kulasekara followed the scheme of things. Both the batsmen used their feet to the spin of Ajmal, and kept scoring at a brisk pace. Mathews, who has forced his way into the side with eight first-class centuries in the last 11 months, seemed to be justifying the move of sacrificing the specialist wicketkeeper to accommodate him. He looked comfortable against both pace and spin, seemed to be reading Ajmal’s doosra, and Kulasekara fed off him.Against the run of play, after the two had added 47 for the seventh wicket, Mathews was undone by a Gul bouncer that didn’t quite come on. But more stiff resistance was in the offing. Kulasekara and Herath added 30 runs for the eighth wicket, a partnership during which Herath survived two difficult chances, with mid-off running back but failing to holding on. Younis came back to get a wicket in his first over again, taking Kulasekara for 38, whereupon Ajmal cleaned up the last two.Kulasekara carried that confidence, and bowled Salman Butt with the second ball of the innings. Butt premeditated a leave, but the ball was too close to the stumps, and the inwards shape did the rest. During a shaky half hour that followed, Younis and Khurram Manzoor played and missed, ran with uncertainty, and it all culminated in Thushara getting Manzoor with 3.1 overs to go.

David Hussey has backed Australia to recover from their Chris Gayle pounding and progress into the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20. They were left stunned when Gayle raced to 88 off 50 balls as West Indies sped to a seven-wicket victory at The Oval to leave Australia facing a must-win match against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge.Hussey admitted the defeat proved deflating for the squad, but he believes the unit will stick together after a difficult few days that also included the departure of Andrew Symonds. “It was a bit down yesterday because we suffered a defeat but I know once we have a team meeting and reassess our goals all the boys will be very very positive. We’re a very tight knit group.”Symonds’ absence forced Australia to change the structure of their side, although David Warner, the man who would likely have sat out had Symonds been available, top-scored with 63 after two wickets fell in the opening over. However, a total of 169 proved no match for Gayle and Andre Fletcher as Australia’s uncomfortable relationship with Twenty20 continued.”It was highly disappointing but we’ve got to move on and play Sri Lanka tomorrow afternoon and we’ve got to win and win well to hopefully stay in the tournament,” Hussey said. “Our backs are against the wall and that’s what Australians love, being in that situation.”Once Australian backs are against the wall we generally come out on top and hopefully we put on a good show. It’s an opportunity to glide through the tournament like a shark. Come tomorrow afternoon we can put on a show and glide into the Super Eight phase.”Australia will certainly need to find their bite to overcome a Sri Lanka side that includes a bowling attack with Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis. “We know what we have to do to Sri Lanka and hopefully we can come out all guns blazing and win very well,” Hussey said. “I think you will see the Australian team coming out and playing very good and aggressive cricket.”We’ve got matchwinners throughout the squad so hopefully we can come through and go further in the tournament. In the last tournament we lost to Zimbabwe in the first round and ended up getting through to the semi finals and unfortunately losing to India. Hopefully we can replicate the last tournament and hopefully go one better.”Australia are in a similar position to England, who must win their game against Pakistan to stay in the tournament. The two sides will go head-to-head in the Ashes once this event is complete, but Hussey knows that both teams would like to see the other eliminated from this event early.”I know all the Australians will be eagerly watching the television and supporting Pakistanis, similar to the English supporting Sri Lanka tomorrow afternoon”

Scorecard
Sri Lanka Under-19 kicked off their tour of Bangladesh with a strong performance on the opening day of their two-day match in Savar. Sri Lanka’s bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for only 197 after the hosts chose to bat and Dinesh Chandimal ensured that the visitors made a steady reply in their first innings.Sri Lanka’s new-ball attack cut through Bangladesh’s top-order, reducing them to 37 for 4. The captain Mahmudul Hasan rallied and held the middle order together with a solid innings of 82 before he had to retire hurt. Fast bowlers Lahiru Jayarathne and Madushan Ekanayake along with legspinner Matheesha Perera struck regularly and ensured Bangladesh fell short of 200. Perera and Ekanayake took 3 for 30 and 3 for 32 respectively.Sri Lanka’s openers, Chandimal and Udara Jayasundera, added 54 runs in quick time before Jayasundera was bowled for 29. Buwaneka Ekanayake fell cheaply but Chandimal remained unbeaten on 670 off 67 balls at the end of the day.

Shaun Tait is aiming to play in the closing rounds of the IPL, despite Cricket Australia this month ruling him out of the tournament on medical grounds. Tait returned to the nets this week after three months on the sidelines with chronic hamstring tendonitis, and is hopeful of being cleared for the final stages of the Rajasthan Royals’ campaign in South Africa.Tait was the only senior Australian player to be selected in the 2009 IPL auction when purchased by Rajasthan for $375,000. The South Australian paceman was disappointed on learning of CA medical staff’s intention to stand him down from the lucrative Twenty20 league, but believes he has now made sufficient progress in his recovery from injury to be reconsidered.”If I can get myself fit, and there is a window for the final two or three games, that would be fantastic,” Tait told Cricinfo. “Because of the injury, Cricket Australia weren’t keen to release me to play [in the IPL], which ruled me out of training and playing with Rajasthan. That was pretty frustrating, because it was something I wanted to be a part of. But now that I am back in the nets and feeling good, hopefully there’s a chance there.”When fit, Tait has been an integral member of Australia’s 50- and 20-over squads in recent seasons, and the right-armer rates himself a “50-50″ chance of being named in the final 15-man line-up for the World Twenty20 in June. The IPL, he feels, represents an ideal opportunity to gain much needed match-practice ahead of the tournament, in which Australia were defeated by India in the semi-finals in 2007.”Obviously a lot of it depends on how I am going physically, but I feel good right at the moment,” he said. “I will keep bowling in the nets, but it would definitely be good to get a few games under my belt. I’m not sure if I’m in the selectors’ minds for the Twenty20 World Cup, but if so, then a few IPL games mightn’t be a bad thing. And if there was the opportunity for a county stint before the one-dayers in England, then that would be great, too.”Tait has contended with a number of elbow, back and hamstring injuries in recent seasons, but remains willing to live with the physical consequences of his violent bowling action for the sake of pace. The 26-year-old said he was loath to tinker with the bowling action that propelled him from the suburban grounds of Adelaide to Kensington Oval, the scene of the 2007 World Cup final, and would consider standing down from the longer forms of the game to extend his career.”At the end of the day, my action has got me this far,” he said. “I am prepared to cop these injuries to keep bowling fast. Last year I probably targetted the shorter forms more. I think one-dayers and Twenty20s suit my style of game more. In the next three or four months, I’ll see how I go. If I’m still feeling good playing four-day cricket then I’d be stupid to walk away, but if not then I’ll have to have a think about it.”I haven’t bowled a ball in three months, so it’s good to be pain-free again. I’ve learned a few ways that might help me manage my injuries better and keep myself strong. I’m sure I’ll get injured again; that’s just the way it is. Maybe that will mean missing a few games here and there, but hopefully I’ll be able to manage things better.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outMS Dhoni’s half-century provided the impetus for India in the morning•Associated Press

There was a world record for Rahul Dravid and four wickets before tea but a combination of bad light and an obdurate fifth-wicket partnership held up India’s victory charge at the Basin Reserve after they had set NewZealand a target of 617. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh took two wicketsapiece and New Zealand’s hopes of surviving into the final day restedlargely with Ross Taylor, who played some swashbuckling strokes on his wayto 69. He added 83 with James Franklin to rebuild the innings, and whenplayed was called off 21 overs early, the draw remained a viable option.Earlier, India had batted till drinks in an extended 150-minute morningsession, adding 85 to their overnight score of 349 for 5 before Zaheertraded bat and pads for the shiny new ball.Martin Guptill and Taylor had taken the score to 84 when a sensationalover from Harbhajan put India in command. Bowling from round the wicket,he got drift, bounce and sharp turn. Guptill, who had played some lovelydrives and a couple of punishing pulls for six, was one short of hishalf-century when Harbhajan trapped him in front with one that turnedsharply. Two balls later, Jesse Ryder completed a poor Test by nicking onelow to Dravid at slip.It was the third wicket that India took in the session, and as has sooften been the case in recent times it was Zaheer who did all the earlydamage. He bowled 15 overs unchanged either side of lunch, and troubledevery batsmen with his pace and angle. Tim McIntosh struggled again,before an edge to third slip shortly before lunch sparked off loudcelebrations. It was Dravid’s 182nd catch, one better than Mark Waugh, and the ball received a grateful kiss once it had settled into the hands.Daniel Flynn also didn’t last long, with a bit of inward movement fromZaheer inducing an inside-edge on to the stumps. It would have been evenworse if not for a TV referral that reprieved Taylor when he had made just9. In real time, Taylor walked after turning a Harbhajan delivery into thehands of Gautam Gambhir at short leg. But as he walked off, he stopped toobserve the replay on the giant screen. The umpires then decided for asecond opinion and after multiple replays, the third umpire ruled thatGambhir had taken it on the bounce.Taylor abandoned circumspection after that, taking Ishant Sharma for threefours in an over when he came on to replace Zaheer, and repeating the dosewith a pull and cut for four just before the kettle was put on. The NewZealand camp though wasn’t in very bubbly mood, with Taylor and theprospect of fifth-day rain representing their best chance of escape.An unbeaten 56 from MS Dhoni had provided the impetus as India started theday in a tearing hurry. Dhoni crashed Chris Martin through the coverstwice and worked another delivery behind point. And after taking a fewdeliveries to get his eye in, Yuvraj Singh joined in, taking 18 from anIain O’Brien over. A cut behind point was followed by a neat tuck behindsquare and two disdainful pulls, the second of which comfortably clearedthe rope.When Daniel Vettori brought himself on, Yuvraj swept powerfully for four,but his statuesque footwork against pace cost him what would have been arapid half-century. Taylor took a smart catch at first slip after Yuvrajflailed at a Martin delivery and three balls later, Harbhajan had joinedhis Punjab team-mate in the pavilion, checking a pull to fine leg, whereTim Southee juggled twice before holding on while lying prone.With the wind swirling around, New Zealand then strung together some tightovers as Dhoni twice went to change his bat. After thwacking Franklinthrough the covers for four more, he reached his half-century from 77balls, while showing little sign that the declaration was imminent. It wasleft to Zaheer to swing Vettori a mile over long-on for a huge six as thelead went past 600. After the batting frolic though, it was time to finishthe job with the ball and by tea, India were nearly halfway there. Butwith the light deteriorating rapidly and Taylor and Franklin defiant, thefinal session didn’t quite go according to plan.

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The first unofficial Test in Queenstown ended in a high-scoring draw as England Lions helped themselves to batting practice after dismissing New Zealand A for 430. The bowlers finally had their say as the home side, resuming on 375 for 3, lost their last six wickets for 55 runs. Jonathan Trott and Robert Key made unbeaten half-centuries to take the visitors to 158 for 1 in their second innings.New Zealand A were well-placed on the final day to overhaul Lions’ 493, with Jamie How and James Franklin within reach of their respective milestones. Franklin however fell eight short of his century when he was caught by Stephen Moores off Liam Plunkett. Seamer Mark Davies then struck two quick blows to leave the opposition at 392 for 6. The lower order failed to support How, who was left stranded on 190. Davies bowled his 29 overs economically, picking up 4 for 54.New Zealand A took the early wicket of Stephen Moore but that was their only success. Key hit eight boundaries in his 66 while Trott top scored with 75, hitting ten boundaries. The second Test starts on Saturday at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.

Queensland 5 for 366 (Love 118*, Hartley 82*, Hopes 55, Symonds 52) lead New South Wales 269 (Khawaja 112, Hopes 4-80) by 97 runs
Scorecard
Points table

Martin Love left a memorable display in his farewell to the Gabba as his 118 not out was responsible for handing Queensland a 97-run advantage over New South Wales. Love, the state’s leading run-scorer, will retire at the end of the season and his 30th century drove the Bulls to the confident position of 5 for 366.The innings was crucial in gaining two points that moved the Bulls to 24, equal with the second-placed Tasmania, who are struggling in Hobart. Both teams are jostling to face Victoria in the final on March 13. Love, the No. 3, held the order together after the hosts were 3 for 81 and shared vital stands with Andrew Symonds, James Hopes and Chris Hartley, who raised half-centuries.Love stayed for 219 balls and struck 15 fours while his partners operated at a quicker rate. Symonds slammed 52 from 45 deliveries, with 10 boundaries, to provide a timely surge to the innings and show he was still capable of producing an important performance. When Symonds, who is playing his 100th first-class game for Queensland, left after hooking at Grant Lambert (2 for 92) he had scored all but eight runs of his partnership with Love.Hopes followed his 4 for 80 with 55 to settle any fears of a collapse and Hartley continued his strong finish to the summer. After taking six catches, Hartley moved to 82 not out and on the third morning will aim for consecutive centuries.Queensland suffered their first loss with Ryan Broad edging behind on 0 while Shane Watson, who is returning from back stress fractures as a specialist batsman, also failed to score. The opener Nick Kruger (44) played on to Greg Mail before Love settled the situation.Usman Khawaja added three to his overnight 109 and was last man out as the Blues reached 269. Ben Cutting picked up the final wicket to have 3 for 51.

The legspinner Bryce McGain will begin his push for a Test debut when he returns to first-class cricket for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield match on Friday. McGain has spent most of the summer sidelined by an unusual injury to the tendons in his right armpit and he started his comeback in the state Twenty20 tournament this month.The injury forced McGain home from October’s tour of India, where he was certain to be the first-choice spinner in the Test side. While he has been out of action, Australia have tried Cameron White, Jason Krejza and Nathan Hauritz in the Test team and it is likely that McGain and either Krejza or Hauritz will make next month’s tour of South Africa.”I’m excited and feel I’m bowling well,” McGain said. “I think the Twent20 stuff was good in terms of bowling short spells under pressure; that tests your control and I was happy where I was putting the ball, so I’m looking forward to bowling some longer spells over the next four days.”McGain is not the only Victorian hoping to impress the national selectors against South Australia at the MCG from Friday. The side will be captained by the allrounder Andrew McDonald, who made his Test debut in Sydney, and is hoping to be considered for the South African trip.In the absence of Cameron White and David Hussey, who are on Australian duties, and the injured Brad Hodge, Victoria have recalled the batsman Lloyd Mash, who has not played for his state this season. They are also considering playing the wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite as a specialist batsman alongside the four-day gloveman Matthew Wade.South Australia will be without their star import Younis Khan, who has been named Pakistan’s new captain and has a home series against Sri Lanka to worry about. The opener Tom Cooper has replaced Younis in the batting line-up.Victoria squad Chris Rogers, Nick Jewell, Lloyd Mash, Rob Quiney, Andrew McDonald (capt), Adam Crosthwaite, Matthew Wade (wk), Damien Wright, Shane Harwood, Clint McKay, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes.South Australia squad Michael Klinger, Daniel Harris, Tom Cooper, Cameron Borgas, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Christian, Aaron O’Brien, Graham Manou (capt, wk) Peter George, Dan Cullen, Mark Cleary, Matthew Weeks.

England’s star players will depart for the Caribbean on Wednesday without having signed the central contracts that they were offered back in September, but their captain, Andrew Strauss, still believes that the lure of the Indian Premier League, the biggest stumbling block in negotiations, will not affect the performance of the national side.Talks were ongoing on Tuesday between the ECB and England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), with Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff among the most prominent candidates for a lucrative stint in the IPL.Flintoff is believed to have been targeted by franchises in Mumbai and Delhi, while Pietersen was seen having talks with representatives from the Bangalore Royal Challengers during England’s recent tour of India. But the deadline for players making themselves available for the IPL is February 4 – the same day as the first day of the opening Test in Jamaica – while the auction itself takes place two days later.The IPL debate was an issue before the personality clash which led to Pietersen’s resignation from the England captaincy and Peter Moores’s sacking as head coach earlier this month, and it threatens to again destabilise a team now doing its best to rally round Strauss.”There’s a huge will on behalf of the players, the PCA and the ECB to get it done and dusted as soon as possible,” Strauss said at Gatwick Airport’s Hilton Hotel. “Everyone will work as hard as they can to ensure it’s done before the cricket starts.During last season’s inaugural IPL campaign, England players were effectively barred from the tournament because of a fixture clash with their home international programme.”From the players’ point of view, there are huge opportunities there financially,” said Strauss. “We need to find a way of marrying the opportunities available to the players and making sure the players are able to commit themselves to playing for England.”England’s management has already agreed to a two-week “window” from April 10-24 in a competition, and the wealthy owners of the franchise teams will bid for some of the world’s best unsigned players at an auction on February 6. But Lalit Modi, the IPL chief, has said anyone involved must be prepared to commit for at least a four-week stint.One compromise being mooted is a three-week IPL spell for the likes of Pietersen and Flintoff, which would allow them to return to England in time for the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s on May 6.However, they would then be ruled out of the preceding round of County Championship fixtures, a move that would anger their domestic sides and raise questions about their readiness to play Test cricket.Strauss, unlikely to be an IPL target even before becoming England captain as he has not played one-day international cricket since the 2007 World Cup, said: “Players have to be fully prepared for a Test match.”What that preparation is depends on the player to a certain extent,” he added. “I believe the players who will be involved in the IPL are experienced campaigners. They didn’t just turn up yesterday. They know what Test cricket is about and know what preparation they need.”England are only playing West Indies at home in the run-up to the Ashes after Sri Lanka pulled out when it became clear they couldn’t field their best team because of players’ IPL commitments. But there are concerns the West Indies could be similarly weakened, leading to accusations that Test cricket – which administrators continue to insist is the pinnacle of the world game – was being devalued.