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Welcome returns to form for Boeta Dippenaar and Shaun Pollock were followed by the continuation of a golden run for Michael Bevan as South Africa and New South Wales continued to engage in a run-feast in their tour match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.After Dippenaar (115) and Pollock (53) had combined to lift the tourists to an imposing first innings tally of 498, it was again the left handed Bevan(60*) who shored up the locals’ defences to leave this high-scoring match in the balance after two days of near-complete batting domination.New South Wales was at 3/170 by stumps, still needing 179 runs to avoid the prospect of following on. Yet it appears in little danger for as long asits captain continues to occupy the crease.Rain interrupted play for close to an hour, and there was watchful batting throughout the closing two sessions of the day as Bevan and a string of toporder batting partners played with vigilance.To that end, most of the day’s highlights came early.Under pressure to retain his Test place ahead of next Wednesday’s meeting with Australia in Melbourne, Dippenaar had produced one of thebest-timed innings of his career in crafting an excellent unbeaten 78 yesterday. And there was little to detract from it today as he made rapidprogress toward and beyond three figures. Five glorious boundaries even came in successive deliveries from medium pacer Shawn Bradstreet(1/132) in the third over of the day as his combination of shots through the leg and off side continued to be near perfectly balanced.It wasn’t until he had struck an amazing 23 boundaries in total that he was finally conquered – a lifted straight drive presenting paceman Jamie Heath(3/72) with a sharp caught and bowled chance.”It is always nice to spend some time out in the middle … you get the confidence back,” said a relieved Dippenaar of the boost in confidence his11th first-class century had afforded him after scores of just 0, 4 and 0 earlier on tour.”There is nothing like spending some time in the middle.”Pollock also celebrated his return to batting form with a half-century, hooking and pulling impressively before playing the shot once too often atHeath and top edging. He and Dippenaar added 101 runs together for the seventh wicket.Steve Elworthy (31) and Claude Henderson (11) also chimed in before hitting catches to Stuart MacGill at mid off. On a morning when he had littlechance to add to five wickets yesterday, it proved MacGill’s best way of keeping his name on the scoresheet.There were wickets for both Elworthy (2/34) and Pollock (1/22) in the New South Wales reply. Brett van Deinsen (1) hit a catch straight toHerschelle Gibbs in the gully off Pollock; Corey Richards (37) slashed at Elworthy to present the same fieldsman with a brilliant one handed catch tohis right; and then obdurate opener Greg Mail (54) succumbed to a classical inswinging yorker from Elworthy just before the end of an extendedfinal session.But Bevan, backing up an unbeaten 562-minute innings that had helped his team to save a Pura Cup match against Western Australia on Monday,was not nearly as easy to shift. An early stumping chance came from the bowling of Henderson (0/68), and there were a few miscued strokes, buthis bat was generally impassable.Mail’s obstinacy, in an innings spread over more than three and a half hours, also proved infuriating.Further problems were caused by a stiffening afternoon breeze on a muggy but cloudy day in Sydney, and to no bowler more than paceman AllanDonald (0/23). The 35-year-old had looked to be regaining his rhythm at times during a total of 12 overs but was forced to bowl seven of them intothe breeze and looked to be so frustrated by it that he even had to abort his run-up more than once.

Zimbabwe emphasised their fast-improving form on their tour of England by inflicting a record defeat on Gloucestershire in the Vodafone Challenge match at Gloucester.The home side, who resumed on 98-4, were restricted to 135-9 in their second innings, which was effectively all out in the absence of injured captain Tim Hancock.It meant a 524-run reverse for Gloucestershire, which was comfortably worse than their previous heaviest defeat of 470 runs by Sussex at Hove in 1913.Pace bowler Pommie Mbangwa ensured a quick finish on the final morning. He claimed four of the last five wickets to fall and ended with an outstanding return of 5-23 from 15.5 overs.He began by removing Michael Cawdron for 19, lbw as he failed to get sufficiently forward.Then he dismissed Jack Russell for 27, as the former England wickekeeper gloved a catch to Alistair Campbell, who had taken over behind the stumps from Andy Flower.The last three wickets added just seven runs as Mbangwa removed Jon Lewis and Tom Cotterell, both caught behind by Campbell, and Bryan Strang dismissed Martyn Ball, snapped up at fourth slip by Trevor Gripper.Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin scopped the £500 man of the match award on offer from the sponsors for his career-best 194 in the first innings.The tourists now move on to play British Univeristies in a three-day match that starts at Cambridge on Wednesday.And captain Andy Flower was pleased with his side’s clinical hammering of a below-strength Gloucestershire side.He said: “It was important that our batsmen spent some time out in the middle, as was the case in this game.”And it was important that we carry on winning these games. We had a rough start to the tour, so it is good to get some solid wins under our belt.”Russell, who took over as Gloucestershire’s captain after Hancock fractured a knuckle on his left hand on Saturday, admitted it had been a tough lesson for the county’s youthful side.”It was a great opportunity for a lot of our guys to push for a first team place in the championship, but that has not happened,” he said.”But we need not feel too disappointed. The guys must learn from this and take note of how the opposition went about things. Zimbabwe are a disciplined side and their bowlers showed what could be achieved by getting the ball in the right areas.”Gloucestershire can now concentrate on Wednesday’s NatWest Trophy third round tie against Worcestershire at New Road, Worcester, where they will begin their defence of the title they won by beating Somerset at Lord’s last August.

West Bromwich Albion centre-forward Reyes Cleary has still not signed a new contract with the Baggies.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Steve Madeley, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for The Athletic that, despite the 17-year-old’s current contract at The Hawthorns set to expire this summer, as well as West Brom having expected the striker to put pen to paper on a professional deal earlier this year, an agreement is yet to be reached with the teenager.

In his report, Madeley writes: “Prolific forward Reyes Cleary was expected to sign a professional contract early this year but, with March now underway, the deal has yet to be completed.”

Fans will be fuming

Considering the abundance of potential that Cleary possesses, in addition to the fact that West Brom have made something of a habit of losing their most promising youth prospects on free transfers in recent years, the news that the club are yet to tie the 17-year-old down to a professional deal is sure to have left fans fuming.

Indeed, the youngster has been in remarkable goalscoring form for Albion’s youth sides so far this season, bagging 13 times over his nine outings for the U18s and seven times over 11 Premier League 2 fixtures.

This form has reportedly seen the likes of Bayern Munich, Schalke, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United all register an interest in the attacker, while a great many more clubs will undoubtedly join the queue for the teenager should he become a free agent at the end of the season.

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As such, it would appear an absolute priority for Steve Bruce to do all he can to secure the future of the centre-forward who Richard Beale dubbed a “diamond” before the summer, or else the Baggies could well see a repeat of Louie Barry and Nathan Ferguson’s departures from the club back in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

In other news: Bruce can finally axe £14k-p/w “Rolls-Royce” as WBA plot offer for £20k-p/w “beast”

Rahkeem Cornwall’s career-best match figures of 12 for 205 along with Jahmar Hamilton’s 130* in the second innings took Leeward Islands to a 85-run victory over Jamaica in Antigua.Cornwall picked up 5 for 74 to help bundle Jamaica out for 158 in the first innings, after which he claimed 7 for 131 in Leewards’ final innings defence of 365 to bowl Jamaica out for 280. Hamilton built on Cornwall’s five-wicket haul in the first innings with a steady century that comprised of eight fours and three sixes. He was assisted by opener Montcin Hodge (72) and Orlando Peters (41) to help Leewards set Jamaica a target of 366.In the chase, Kirk Edwards top scored with 93 but it wasn’t enough to drive Jamaica home as none of the other batsmen managed to cross a score of 40.Both teams suffered batting collapses in the first innings. Hodge (41) and Daron Cruickshank (51) did majority of the scoring in Leewards’ 155 after they were inserted, while, in response, Jamaica were bundled out for 158 with No. 11 Sheldon Cottrell top scoring with 37.For Jamaica, Nikita Miller and Damion Jacobs starred with the ball, picking eight wickets each in the match.Barbados smashed Windward Islands by an innings and 56 runs in Bridgetown. The win was built around centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope, and a match haul of eight from pace Miguel Cummins.Windwards chose to bat and were in trouble straightaway as Cummins cut through their top order to reduce them to 46 for 4 – one of the four to fall was Keddy Lesporis, who was sent on his way after handling the ball. Fifties from Andre Fletcher and Kavem Hodge made sure they did not collapse altogether, and they managed to put 250 on the board before being all out, Miguel ending with five scalps.If they had any hope of that being enough to challenge Barbados, it was crushed by opener Brathwaite and No. 3 Hope, with scores of 117 and 162 respectively. Brisk cameos from the middle order followed, giving Barbados a cushion of 200 runs going into the second innings. Windwards could not force them to bat again, with Cummins again making the initial breakthrough before the spin of Sulieman Benn and Roston Chase took over. Windwards were duly bowled out for 144 in 53.3 overs.Guyana registered a big win in Providence, beating Trinidad & Tobago by 105 runs. Batsmen Vishaul Singh and Leon Johnson, and the spin pairing of Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo were the stars of the game for Guyana.Vishaul held Guyana together after they chose to bat, making an unbeaten 104 from No. 5 to get his team to 237. The two spinners then ensured that was enough, Permaul taking a five-for and Bishoo three to bowl T&T out for 179. Captain Johnson made sure that 58-run lead did not go to waste, stringing together 111 in Guyana’s second innings, before declaring to set T&T 303 for the win. They got nowhere close as Guyana’s spin twins delivered once more, Permaul grabbing four this time and Bishoo two.

DrawnThis game was treated as a means of giving the Englishmen as much practice as possible before the third Test match, and MCC batted 12 men against the local side’s 13. Both teams fielded 11 a side. During the tea interval on the second day the Bendigo Cricket Association received a telegram from W. H. Jeanes, Secretary of the Australian Board of Control, asking on whose authority the teams had agreed to bat thirteen and twelve respectively. The Bendigo Association replied that it was by mutual arrangement.

“We have brought Ashwell Prince back to give us experienced options should we wish to change our top order batting’ – Haroon Lorgat © Getty Images

Ashwell Prince will replace Boeta Dippenaar for the remaining two ODIs against India. The change was announced today by Haroon Lorgat, convenor of selectors. “We have brought Ashwell Prince back to give us experienced options should we wish to change our top order batting,” Lorgat said.Lorgat also announced that six senior players would be rested for the Twenty20 match to be played against India at Wanderers on Friday night. “The players to be rested are Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock,” Lorgat said.”We are fortunate to have talented players in reserve which allows us to rest some of our senior players. “These include the likes of AB de Villiers as a wicket-keeper, and allrounders such as Tyron Henderson, Albie Morkel, Roger Telemachus, Robin Peterson and Johan van der Wath.”Lorgat also confirmed that he had replaced Andre Nel with Andrew Hall for the third ODI. “Andre Nel had sustained an injury to his right index finger and I made the call to the replace him with Andrew Hall before the start of play”

8:30am
Scorecard
Wet conditions on the morning of the third day meant that play was off at 8:30am local time. Bouts of heavy overnight showers left the MA Chidambaram Stadium in a damp state and covers enveloped most parts of the ground.The outfield had a lush, marshy look about it and the umpires decided to call off play without even waiting for an inspection later in the day. Like the first two days, grey skies loomed and despite the super sopper, and the ground staff, working overtime nothing could stop them from abandoning play right at the outset.

Sachin Tendulkar: Will play, but won’t bat© AFP

Sachin Tendulkar has said he will play in the charity match on January 10 for the victims of the tsunami, but will only field, following medical advice that he shouldn’t play a ball for a month.”I am definitely participating in the match. But I won’t be batting in that game as advised by my doctors,” Tendulkar told Press Trust of India. He had earlier hinted that he wanted to be a part of the match even if he couldn’t participate in it.Tendulkar had also been advised not to play domestic games to rest hisleft elbow which kept him out of international cricket for over two months.He was quoted by United News of India, saying, “The doctors have recommended a month’s rest during which they have advised me not to play a single ball and to take complete rest.”Speaking about the tsunami tragedy, he said it was important for every person to do his bit to help the victims’ families and the survivors. Tendulkar also said he had made no goals for the year 2005. “No goals for 2005. I am just going to go out there and play my game.”

Andy Flower has agreed a new two-year deal with Essex. Flower, 35, retired from international cricket after the 2003 World Cup. He has dual nationality and becomes qualified to play as a non-overseas player next season.David East, Essex’s chief executive, said: “Andy has been a model overseas player for the last two seasons and, following the conclusion of his international career, we are delighted he has signed a two-year contract with us. He has a British passport and will play in Essex as a local player, which obviously enables us to keep our second overseas player option open having already secured Scott Brant for 2004.”Flower joined Essex in 2002 and made an immediate impact, scoring over 1000 runs with an average over fifty, and helped Essex to promotion in both the Frizzell County Championship and the National League. This year, Flower recently passed the 1000-run mark again, despite Essex’s struggle in the Championship.

Ruthless Queensland finished off a stunned Tasmania in record-breaking time at the Gabba today before victorious captain Stuart Law rubbished any thoughts of hometown advantage.The Gabba wicket came under fire after Queensland cruised to a 10-wicket win in just 569 minutes – the shortest completed match in Australian domestic four-dayhistory.It was finished 27 minutes before tea on the second day when the Bulls reached 0-51 against a Tasmanian team which had been skittled for 100 and 82 in the PuraCup match.Former Test batsman Dean Jones – who watched from the commentary box – unloaded scathing criticism on the Gabba ground staff.But his was a lone voice as both teams insisted the greenish wicket was not responsible for the record.”Deano never scored a run here (for Victoria),” Law said.”People are going to be pointing the finger at the pitch but I don’t think it contributed to any dismissal.”It’s a result wicket – you don’t want a flat track where every team gets 400.”(Test opener) Matthew Hayden has batted here all his career and he averages 60 at the ground.”Maybe Queensland batsmen are better than people give them credit for.”The points table reflects that, with the defending champions charging to a 10-point break at the halfway stage of the season.Tasmanian skipper Jamie Cox – whose match returns of 20 and 21 stood out like skyscrapers for the Tigers – said the wicket made batting tough.The Tigers didn’t help their cause with some poor shots today, leaving them in tatters at 5-28.”It was bloody hard work and it got quicker today which made it even tougher,” Cox said.”But I looked at the wicket yesterday morning and I wanted to lose the toss.”I wasn’t at all unhappy to bat first on it.”There is no excuse for us to lose 19 wickets with a top score of 28. That’s not acceptable.”The Tigers struggled with an illness to batsman Michael Di Venuto, who retired hurt for four.But the game was gone by then, with the Tasmanians losing three wickets in the first three overs of the second day.Michael Kasprowicz took all three on the way to 4-22, while Joe Dawes collected 3-28.The record-keepers began watching the clock when it became apparent the teams wouldn’t need the tea break.The record for the shortest domestic match was set in 1975-76, when Dennis Lillee and Mick Malone helped Western Australia thump Victoria in 10 hours at the MCG.Curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr defended his wicket, putting the record down to “one of those games”.”We’ve been struggling since this ground was rebuilt (two years ago) to get pace and bounce – I think we’ve got it,” Mitchell said.”The conditions helped the ball swing and seam but I’ve seen livelier wickets here.”Queensland has won its three home matches this summer and, with two first-innings wins away from home, leads the points table with 22.Law admitted the Bulls could “relax for a few weeks” over the Christmas break but said they must regain focus for the return clash with Tasmania in Hobart onJanuary 17.