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Somerset tightened their grip on the county championship match against Glamorgan at Taunton and by the end of the second day’s play they had a first innings lead of 194 with four wickets remaining.Resuming on 161 for 1 captain Mike Burns, who was 33 not out overnight, set out his stall early on and took 10 runs off an over from Alex Wharf to bring up his own half century and his sides 200.He quickly passed his partner Peter Bowler, who had resumed on 51 not out, and on the stroke of noon played an imperious cover drive and seemed to be heading towards a well deserved century.However with the total on 249 he was somewhat surprisingly bowled leg stump by Adrian Dale for 82, after putting on 128 for the second wicket with Bowler. During his innings Burns faced 119 balls and scored 13 x 4’s.Jamie Cox announced his arrival at the crease with a trademark cover drive, and appeared to be in cracking form displaying an array of attacking shots.Meanwhile, Bowler had been going along steadily and was batting like a man destined to reach his century. However Dale had other ideas and just a few minutes before lunch with the total on 290, Bowler gave a straightforward catch to Wharf at mid on. The veteran opener had been at the wicket over 4 ¾ hours to compile his 92 and faced 227 balls and hit ten boundaries.Shortly after lunch Bryant and Cox brought up the 300 but within half an hour of returning from the interval the players left the field because of rain.The rain caused the loss of eleven overs and kept the players off the field for forty minutes, but shortly after they returned Cox was disappointingly trapped LBW by Wharf after scoring an impressive 29 runs.Cox’s dismissal signalled the arrival of Ian Blackwell who was making his first championship appearance of the season at Taunton. The situation was ideal for the all rounder who was quickly into his stride and took runs almost at will from Robert Croft, who he hit for 16 runs from one over.Along with Bryant the left hander brought up the fifty partnership from six overs, and looked to be going well until with his score on 42 he played a ball from David Harrison onto his stumps. `Blackie’ had faced just 27 balls and scored seven four’s.Bryant became Dales third victim when he was out LBW to bring Aaron Laraman to the wicket and by teatime Rob Turner (12 not out) and Laraman (0 not out) had taken the Cidermen onto 394 for 6, before the rain started to fall again to prevent any further play.After play was abandoned for the day just before six o’clock, Somerset coach Kevin Shine said: "It has been very frustrating that we have been denied 43 overs play today, and we will have to try and gauge how many more overs of play might be possible before we decide what we are going to do. We have got two days of play left and we will be pushing hard to get a victory."He continued: "The skipper batted well today and it’s nice to see Mike back in the runs again and Peter Bowler got a good 90 odd. The wicket looks like it could have quickened up a little which suits us with Nixon McLean, Richard Johnson and Simon Francis all in good form, so tomorrow we will be hoping that we can get a days play and push hard for a victory."Paceman Johnson is suffering from a slight groin strain, and whilst he will bowl for Somerset in the Glamorgan second innings he will not be fit enough to be available for selection for the first Test match against Zimbabwe that gets underway next Thursday

Lymington’s hopes of finishing runners-up in Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 were dashed when an unfit pitch at Grasmere Road led to the abandonment of their last day visit to Cove.Umpires called a halt to play after 12 overs, with former Cove captain Ian Crompton repeatedly struck by balls lifting off the surface.Play was delayed an hour to give the ground more time to recover from the previous afternoon’s heavy downpours.But a wet surface, lying on top of the hard unsoil, made batting conditions precarious – Cove reaching 31-2 before play was halted.The abandonment left Cove in the runners-up position behind champions Portsmouth, who rounded off their campaign with a 98-run win at relegated Hambledon.Matt Keech (26), Paul Dew (25) and Geoff Pike (22) top scored in Portsmouth’s 170 – former Hampshire left-arm spinner Ian Turner (4-18) successful in his farewell game for the village club.Raj Maru (4-19) and Pete Hayward (3-6) bowled Hambledon out for 72.Olly Kelly hit a six off the fourth ball of the final over to give Sparsholt an unexpected two-wicket win over Easton & Martyr Worthy at Locks Lane.Sparsholt were staring defeat in the face at 72-6, in reply to Easton’s 179 (Steve Green 58), but a late order rally turned the match around.Malcolm Ball must have thought his creditable 5-49 return was to have little effect when, Rob Savage (31) and Kevin Foyle (23) apart, Sparsholt’s top order was blown away.But Bill Gunyon (27) and Will Mariner (36) doubled the total to 148-8 before Kelly’s crucial 29, which included 12 runs off Mark Stone’s final over, gave Sparsholt a remarkable victory.South African teenager John Geoghegan took six wickets for nine runs as Trojans were skittled for 85 and comfortably beaten at United Services.Playing his last game before returning to his native Johannesburg, Geoghegan clean bowled five of his victims, while only Simon Williams (21) made aworthwhile impression for Trojans.Paul Douglas and Tim Subnaik took two wickets each before Chris Williams (42) eased US home.John Barnard carried his bat for 93 and Max Smith hit 66 as Old Tauntonians & Romsey piled up 256-5 before beating relegated Old Basing by 80 runs.Charles Forward (39) shared an 85-run opening partnership with Barnard, whose subsequent 125-run stand with Smith put OTs in a winning position.Only teenager Ben Thane (75) made his mark as Old Basing tumbled to 176 all out against Nick Wood (4-31) and two-wicket pair Stuart Tulk and Max Smith.

After bowling Bangladesh out for under 100 in the first T20, South Africa’s attack intends to apply the same heat to their opposition in the second game as they go in search of a series win.”We need to be pretty aggressive; that’s our game plan,” Charl Langeveldt, who is on his first assignment as South Africa’s bowling coach after succeeding Allan Donald last month, said. “Normally when we come to the subcontinent, we try and use our aggression. That’s why we play four fast bowlers.”South Africa’s pack of Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, David Wiese and Wayne Parnell broke the back of the Bangladesh chase, with six wickets between them. Abbott and Rabada set the tone through effective use of the short ball, which made matters uncomfortable for the Bangladesh batsmen even though there was not much bounce or pace from the surface.Abbott’s first over was exclusively about holding his length back and varying his line from wide outside the off stump to closer in, aimed at the batsman’s body. He was rewarded with a wicket at the end of it. Rabada initially bowled on a length but soon saw he would need to get the batsmen into awkward positions. As soon as he banged in a bouncer, it produced a wicket.But Langeveldt explained that despite the brutish nature of a barrage of short balls, he is not teaching his bowlers to single-mindedly adopt a caveman-like, forceful approach to their bowling. “It’s also about the follow-up ball and our guys executed that well too,” he explained. “We need to adapt. You can’t just come and be aggressive to a Shakib [Al Hasan] or a Mushfiqur [Rahim] if he is going well. It’s also about adapting to the conditions.”Wiese demonstrated how taking pace off the ball was an equally effective tactic, while Parnell found a hint of reverse-swing. Those subtle arts are what Langeveldt is placing the focus on in limited-overs cricket ahead of the World T20, which will be played in India next year.With conditions likely to be more like the ones South Africa are experiencing now in Bangladesh than those they play in at home, Langeveldt wants his men to have enough variation in their game to perform on any surface. “The main thing for us for the T20 World Cup is to improve our skills. It’s not 100% yet. We’ve got a young attack – they are good listeners and they ask good questions.” Chris Morris is the other member of the attack and he may come in for Parnell for the second game.Eddie Leie will also hope to get an opportunity. The legspinner could make his international debut, likely at the expense of Aaron Phangiso, if South Africa want to give all their bowlers a run in this series, something Langeveldt hinted at. “We are experimenting with the new guys to see where they are,” he said. “We know what we are going to get from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel so this is a good opportunity to see what the young guys have got.”

ScorecardFile photo – Pant hit nine fours and two sixes•PTI

Opener Rishabh Pant stroked his second successive fifty while Washington Sundar followed up his two wickets with a fifty of his own to help India Under-19s secure a berth in the Tri-nation tournament final, after three wins in a row.Chasing 223, India had a rapid start with Pant and Ishan Kishan adding 67 in 5.4 overs. The partnership, however, ended when Kishan was run out by Nazmul Hossain Shanto. Pant was dismissed 14 balls later, as Bangladesh Under-19s put the skids on the chase. Captain Virat Singh and Amandeep Khare managed only 32 in 13 overs before Virat and Sarfraz Khan were out in a space of three balls. Sundar then anchored the chase with 50 off 75 balls, including six fours. Though Sundar gave a return catch to Nazmul, Mahipal Lomror and Mayank Dagar guided India home with four wickets and eight balls to spare.Mehedi Hasan Miraz took two wickets after making a 90-ball 87 with the bat but his all-round effort only offered scant consolation for Bangladesh. Having opted to bat, the visitors were reduced to 81 for 4 in 30.1 overs. Miraz then launched a counterattack, aided by contributions from Mohammad Saifuddin and Saeed Sarkar, pushing his side past 200, but Bangladesh eventually slid to their second loss in three matches.

Zimbabwe Select are set to recall former national captain Terrence Duffin for the second match against India A which gets underway at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday (July 30).Duffin missed the first game, which India A won by nine wickets, because he was suffering from a cold but he is likely to replace Tinotenda Mawoyo who has failed to rekindle the same form that he produced during the Logan Cup. Duffin took part in a net session on Sunday.Duffin should open the batting with Hamilton Masakadza, with Vusi Sibanda and Tatenda Taibu, who hit a hundred on his comeback, in a strong middle order. Taibu’s successful return only adds to the likelihood that the short-term international career of wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor, named in the squad but still believed to be in Europe, is over.Zimbabwe’s bowling was less impressive and while the pace bowlers are likely to be retained, there is doubt if the selectors will play two spinners. If they opt not to, then legspinner Graeme Cremer will be the one to miss out as Prosper Utseya made useful runs.The Zimbabwe squad arrived in Bulawayo by road from Harare on Saturday evening and had a net session without Kevin Curran, the coach. He had decided to travel in his sponsored car, a move which did not go down well with some of the his technical team.India A flew into Bulawayo on Sunday morning and had a practice session at Queen’s in the afternoon.

Division One

4th dayWarwickshire squeezed over the line by two wickets against Hampshire as they chased down 121 in 25 overs and won off the last ball The Rose Bowl. Dimitri Mascarenhas almost pulled off an amazing win for Hampshire with five wickets as Warwickshire collapsed from 77 for 1 to 101 for 8. However, Neil Carter hit a four and a six as the visitors nicked it. Earlier, Hampshire resisted manfully as Heath Streak took six wickets. Chris Benham hit a career-best 95, adding 159 with Dominic Thornely, but the Warwickshire attack then got to work. Shaun Udal clubbed some late runs and, despite seeming just a consolation, they almost proved to be match-winning. As it is, Hampshire slip further adrift in the Championship race.There was just the one over of play at Headingley between Yorkshire and Kent leaving the game in a dull stalemate.3rd dayLancashire‘s Championship hopes were dealt a further blow with only two overs possible on the third day at Old Trafford. Middlesex, who batted first, have still not completed their first innings and for what it’s worth they’re on 262 for 6.

Division Two

4th day
Leicestershire pulled off a last-gasp victory against Worcestershire, inching home with eight balls to spare after both teams decided to fashion out a match at Grace Road. Worcestershire forfeited their second innings to leave Leicestershire a sporting chase of 356 off 88 overs after they had made 101 for 2 declared in their first innings.Worcestershire’s high point of the day came when they had Leicestershire 88 for 3. But John Sadler and Darren Maddy each made scores in the eighties to reverse the momentum firmly in Leicestershire’s favour, putting on 160 for the fourth wicket. From then on it became a race against time – could Worcestershire’s bowlers hold on for the draw? They couldn’t, and Stuart Broad hit the winning runs off Ray Price with a crunching four.3rd dayIt was a day for overseas players as Derbyshire managed to dodge the rain against Leicestershire and build a useful lead of 131 at Derby. Michael di Venuto hit 104 and half-centuries from Greg Smith and Ant Botha built the advantage. di Venuto’s ton, his third of the season, came off 162 balls and he added 124 for third wicket with fellow Australian, Travis Birt. Smith and Botha, both South Africans, then put on 131 for the fifth wicket to push Derbyshire well ahead. This is just Smith’s second Championship match of the summer and his 86 is a career-best.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, the former vice-captain of West Indies, has refused to accept vice-captaincy of the Guyana squad for the ongoing Carib Beer regional competition, with a view of giving younger players a chance to lead the side and gain valuable experience.Speaking to before the start of the round 6 four-day match against Trinidad and Tobago, Sarwan said, “I won’t be around for long due to international commitments. It won’t be right on my part to take up the position and leave half-way. It would be a good opportunity for a younger player to take up the vice-captaincy and [he] can be groomed in the team.”In place of Sarwan, the Guyana board appointed the 23-year-old Damodar Daesrath as the vice-captain and Shivnarine Chanderpaul as the captain. Daesrath had led the side in the absence of Chanderpaul with mixed results: one win, one loss, two draws and a no-result in the away matches.Sarwan was also replaced by Chanderpaul as the vice-captain of the West Indies side in the recently-concluded VB Series. Sarwan, who was identified as the future captain, was appointed as Brian Lara’s deputy in 2003, during Lara’s second stint as captain. Sarwan enjoyed his best year in Test cricket in 2004, when he crossed 1000 runs with an average above 50. Though the selectors did not offer any explanations for replacing Sarwan, it is reliably known that they wanted him to concentrate on his batting.

It can’t be fun being a selector. You only get written about when someone is being critical of you, and you get written about a lot. Not only can you not please everyone, often, you can’t please anyone. That’s what the journalists at Wisden Cricinfo – our staff and some regular contributors – discovered when we put on our selectorial hats, and picked Rest of the World teams for the Super Series contest against Australia next year.What a squishy mess we walked right into. As many as 22 people cast their votes, picking a Test XI and an ODI XI, and no two teams, out of all these, were exactly the same. We collated all the votes and came up with composite teams, and those sides did not match any of the 22 submitted in each category either. That confirms the suspicion that some of us are too hard on selectors sometimes; they will rarely pick the same team that any writer or fan may pick, and as long as the differences are reasonable, one should just let those poor souls be.Feel free to pick on us, though. If you don’t agree with our teams, given below, write to us and let us know, and give us your Rest of the World XIs for Tests and one-dayers.Rest of the World Test team (in batting order)1 Michael Vaughan (13 votes, capt)
2 Virender Sehwag (14)
3 Rahul Dravid (20)
4 Brian Lara (20)
5 Sachin Tendulkar (19)
6 Jacques Kallis (14)
7 Mark Boucher (16, wk)
8 Shaun Pollock (10)
9 Shoaib Akhtar (17)
10 Steve Harmison (19)
11 Muttiah Muralitharan (22)The closest battle in the selection of this squad was between Jacques Kallis and VVS Laxman, who found himself the 12th man with nine votes. The argument in favour of Laxman was his outstanding record against Australia, with an average of 63.52, and three centuries – two in the recent four-Test series, to add to his classic 281 in 2001. But Kallis’s allround skills won him the slot: the differential between his batting average and his bowling average is 11.3, which compares well with anyone in the history of the game.The most popular opener, surprisingly, was Virender Sehwag, who wasn’t even taken seriously as a Test opener until recently – he himself speaks of going back to the middle order one day. His 309 against Pakistan at Multan, and the 195 against Australia at Melbourne that came two Tests before that, underscored his destructive potential at the top of the order, where he can snatch the momentum away in a session, and the match in another.

He’ll have good company in Michael Vaughan, whose uncertain form of late is balanced by his fine run against Australia in the last Ashes series, where he made three hundreds. He made the team comfortably with 13 votes, more than the openers nearest to him, Graeme Smith (7) and Herschelle Gibbs (5), combined.Unsurprisingly, every single person picked Muttiah Muralitharan, disregarding the controversies that have dogged him since his career began. The pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Steve Harmison was supplemented by the experience and guile of Shaun Pollock, while Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan and Chaminda Vaas, all with five votes, missed out by a long distance. Kumar Sangakkara, with four votes, was the reserve wicketkeeper.Some of our writers made interesting punts on the future, given that the matches are a year away. One picked Yuvraj Singh to open with Sehwag, implying that not only will Yuvraj open for India in the coming season, as is being speculated, he’ll do well enough to be considered one of the world’s best. Another backed Geraint Jones for the wicketkeeper’s slot – Andy Flower also got a vote for that place. No-one bet on Kevin Pietersen, though, or young Parthiv Patel.Michael Vaughan won the right to captain the side, ahead of the only other current captain, Brian Lara.Rest of the World ODI team (in batting order)1 Sachin Tendulkar (21 votes)
2 Virender Sehwag (15)
3 Jacques Kallis (15)
4 Brian Lara (18)
5 Rahul Dravid (12, capt, wk)
6 Yuvraj Singh (7)
7 Andrew Flintoff (18)
8 Shaun Pollock (16)
9 Shoaib Akhtar/Chaminda Vaas (7 each)
10 Steve Harmison (8)
11 Muttiah Muralitharan (21)Many more players were in contention for the one-day side than the Test side – a total of 39 players had their names mentioned by our 22 selectors. While the cut-off mark for the Test side was 10 votes, here, it was seven, with three players tied on that position, in a battle for two places. Yuvraj Singh, who has constructed some impeccable finishes for India in recent times, took up the batting slot at No. 6, while Shoaib and Vaas were left struggling for one bowling spot.Pathan, Sourav Ganguly and Herschelle Gibbs just missed the cut with six points each. Boucher also lost out with six points; of the 12 people who picked Rahul Dravid, 11 wanted him to keep wicket. Remarkably, given that he isn’t India’s captain yet, he was also chosen to captain the side. Far-sighted or foolhardy? We’ll know in hindsight.Two men named Chris, Gayle and Cairns, got five votes each. Tendulkar and Murali were the most popular picks, both with 21 votes. (And no, the names and email IDs of the people who left out Tendulkar from either side will not be posted here.) As many as ten of the people who voted for Tendulkar wanted him to bat in the middle order, but at the end, only one other opener made it among the batsmen, so that wasn’t necessary. Andrew Flintoff, who lends such weight to the England team with his stirring allround talent, and Brian Lara were also popular choices, with 18 votes each.Shite, wasn’t it? And to think we call ourselves cricket writers. Disgraceful. You can certainly do better, so please do, and write in to us with your teams. We’ll try to collate readers’ XIs, and we’ll also put up some of your feedback.Amit Varma is managing editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India. None of the teams picked here corresponds exactly with his, so in case you know where he lives, please don’t do anything harsh.

No-one will ever under-estimate Peter Fulton when he next strides to the wicket with bat in hand for Canterbury, or for whoever he is playing.Fulton, 24, in only his 11th first-class match achieved the feat of scoring a triple century in a State Championship match against Auckland at Hagley Oval.It was the definitive statement of his ability although is not without precedent when coming so early in a career.Most recently Ken Rutherford scored his triple century when 21 years of age while Bill Carson, whose 290 was the record Fulton surpassed as the highest score for a maiden century, was 20 when he achieved his great score. He had his career cut short by the Second World War in which he died of wounds.Fulton didn’t feel too tired after his innings, it was broken with a night off when he was 188 not out, and said when the declaration came around lunchtime on day two, he felt a tiredness normally associated with having been on a long run.By the end of the four days he was back to normal.The innings came as some reward for opting for cricket over the rugby he had been playing as a 196cm tall fullback. The choice, one which faces so many young New Zealand sportsmen, was forced on him when he had the chance to play league cricket in England. He had two years with Lytham in the Liverpool League. Some knee problems also contributed.”Both sports are similar in terms of team spirit involved in them. But I think in cricket you have a little bit more control over your own game and you are not so reliant on other people,” he said.Fulton made his debut in the last game of the summer of 2000/01, when the competition was well and truly gone from Canterbury’s grasp. It was enough to leave him wanting more but not sufficient for him to get a true idea of what was involved.”It was five or six games before I realised what was all about,” he said.Winning acceptance as a prospective player had not been easy because he played his club cricket in North Canterbury and it was unfashionable for country players to be pulled into the representative side.Making his task easier was the fact that Michael Sharpe had become Canterbury coach after a period as Canterbury Country coach where he had seen Fulton develop.That country cricket involved playing in New Zealand’s second-class competition for the Hawke Cup, a competition notorious for producing some hard nuts who have been exposed to one-innings matches of a nature as tough, if not tougher on occasions, as first-class cricket.”It’s the highest level that a lot of those who are playing will ever reach, and they make it tough. There is a lot riding on it and there is more talk on the field than in first-class play.”The biggest difference in Hawke Cup cricket is having to bat for such a long time and it makes you realise what is required when you step up,” he said.It was certainly a key asset in his own triple century innings.Canterbury had not been going well although Fulton had been having some reasonable, if not earth-shattering, scores.”In the Auckland game there was a lot of pressure on the whole team. The batsmen had not been performinng.”I felt good when I got in. I was so determined to make the most of it.”Before I got to the century, that was all I was focusing on. It is a big hurdle until you get one. Once I got there I was just enjoying it.”Then I really wanted to get through to the end of the day and start again the next day. I knew if I could do that I could get a really big score.”He went to stumps on 188 not out.The innings produced its own type of euphoria the further he went. Batting wasn’t difficult.”I didn’t feel like I had to force myself to concentrate. I was not worried about dot balls or maidens.”As his innings mounted, team-mates began to take an interest in the milestones as they passed: Chris Harris’ Canterbury record of 251 not out; the highest score by a New Zealander for his maiden century held by W N ‘Bill’ Carson with 290 runs, and then the seventh instance of a New Zealander scoring a triple century – the first by anyone who didn’t have an Otago connection.”It was strange to see myself on that [triple centuries] list. Now the season has finished I can think about it a little more.”The reaction after the match had been “amazing”. He has been getting letters and calls of congratulations from people who he thought wouldn’t have taken an interest in cricket and that had been most satisfying.Fulton, who has an Arts degree majoring in education and sociology, said he didn’t think the triple century would create any pressure for him in the future. The opposite was the case.”I’ve done it. It gives me some confidence for my place in the side.”The immediate benefit has been a place in the New Zealand Cricket Academy this year. He had been disappointed to miss out last year.It will be the first time he has had some specific coaching. He hasn’t had a lot of technical coaching before, more the benefit of an enthusiastic headmaster Peter Prosser at Waihi School and Sharpe later on in his career.”I couldn’t really play a forward defensive shot. I was more of a bowler until just after the third form.”Winning a place in the Canterbury team, he never played age-group cricket for Canterbury, although he was once included in the Under-19 side when another player was injured, had exposed him to international players and their methods of preparation and performance.”The biggest thing about playing for Canterbury is being in the nets with the New Zealand players when they are back. Batting with them and watching them, and asking them questions has been great because they have been happy to pass on their knowledge.”I had a different route to the side. I have had to work every year and I took the view that I had to improve five per cent each year so my improvement has been quite gradual.”When he was chosen for Canterbury he was the first Christ’s College player for several years, which in Christchurch’s, and Christ’s College’s, proud association with cricket was a long time.The school teams had suffered from the problem afflicting the game in New Zealand, the drop-out rate of players when their schooling is completed. But that just made Fulton’s success all the more satisfying for him.He gives the impression that there is still much more he wants to do, and that has to be healthy for Canterbury in the short term and who knows where it might all end for him?

Waqar Younis will continue as captain of Pakistan for the home series against New Zealand and the Asian Test championship.Waqar led Pakistan to a drawn series against England and the final of the NatWest Series involving England, Pakistan and Australia.”The Pakistan Cricket Board is satisfied with Younis’s overall showing as captain and he has set a good example with his leadership,” Tauqir Zia, the PCB chairman told the BBC.