Scorecard

Tasmania moved to second on the Pura Cup table after a tense chase ended in a three-wicket victory over Victoria. The Tigers’ top seven all made solid contributions after being set a last-day target of 314 in 86 overs and the win was sealed with two deliveries remaining when Shane Harwood bowled a no-ball.Michael Dighton’s impression was strongest with 66 and after Tim Paine and Travis Birt collected 46 the home side had a strong chance of reaching the total. Jon Moss, the Victoria medium-pacer, interrupted the hosts by taking care of both Dighton and Michael Di Venuto (30) and the visitors were also boosted by two run-outs.When Dan Marsh was caught short for 31 off 38 balls Tasmania still wanted 49 in ten overs, but George Bailey and Luke Butterworth calculated successfully over the final stages until they both slipped in the same Mick Lewis over. It was left to Sean Clingeleffer and Brett Geeves to scramble three runs before Harwood over-stepped. The result catapulted the Tigers to 26 points – they are behind New South Wales on run quotient – while Victoria shuffled back a place to third.Ben Hilfenhaus grabbed the final two Victoria wickets in the morning session after the Bushrangers added 27 to their overnight total and finished at 338. Hilfenhaus earned figures of 4 for 82 while Marsh, Butterworth and Geeves took two victims each.

Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire at the heart of the Oval controvery last year, has decided not to take legal action against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for racial discrimination.”I have been told by our lawyer Mark Gay that Hair has withdrawn the case,” Dr Naseem Ashraf, the PCB chairman, was quoted as saying in .Hair was sacked as an Elite Panel umpire by the ICC for his role in the forfeited Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval last year, during which he accused Pakistan of ball tampering. He was reinstated as an umpire for the World Cricket League in Kenya earlier this month and stole some of the spotlight when it emerged that he was considering legal action against the PCB for their alleged role in his sacking.Ashraf said that the PCB was confident they had a valid case against Hair as it was always a matter to be resolved between Hair and his employers, the ICC . “Hair knew well that he had no case against us, what he has done is there for everyone to see. If any party had a case, it was Pakistan.”However, the issue isn’t closed yet as far as the ICC is concerned as it was learnt that Hair would continue to pursue the simultaneous lawsuit he filed against them.

Michael Clarke has joined the growing list of players willing to battle through the pain barrier at the World Cup. He was forced to miss the Chappell-Hadlee series with a hip problem and admits he still hasn’t fully tested the injury.”I’ve had a couple of batting sessions and I haven’t been getting anywhere near as much pain, I should say,” Clarke told . “So I’m feeling good. Fingers crossed. But I haven’t done too much running, so I’ll have to do a bit of running over the next couple of days and see how it pulls up. But I’m pretty confident it’s going to be fine.”Clarke is slated to bat at the vital No. 4 position and his importance to the line-up grows with the concerns surrounding Matthew Hayden (toe) and Andrew Symonds (bicep). His form varied during the Commonwealth Bank series, but he has fond memories of the Caribbean.Clarke made 170 runs at 85 during the one-day series in the West Indies in 2003 and knows there is no bigger arena than the World Cup. “It’s the No.1 stage for one-day cricket,” he said. “That gives every individual an opportunity to step up on such a big stage.”Hopefully I’ll get the chance to stay batting at No. 4 and there’ll be plenty of opportunity, I would imagine, to get out there and score some runs. So I’ll be working my backside off over the next couple of weeks to make sure I’m ready to go for the first game.”Clarke’s left-arm spin will also prove useful to the Australians, who struggled to find a reliable fifth and sixth bowler in New Zealand. He will expect to take some of Andrew Symonds’ overs while the allrounder is recovering from his arm injury.In 101 ODIs Clarke has taken 30 wickets at 36 with an impressive best of 5 for 35 against Sri Lanka at Dambulla. Australia’s first warm-up match is against Zimbabwe on March 6 before they face England on March 9 in the lead-up to their opening group match, against Scotland, on March 14.

The South African camp has been in a sombre mood since the news broke of the death of their former coach, Bob Woolmer, on Sunday. But of all the players in the squad who knew and respected him, none can have had closer ties than Jonty Rhodes, the team’s fielding coach, whose career was hand-moulded by Woolmer.”The two most important people in my cricketing career were Hansie [Cronje] and Bob and they’re both gone,” said Rhodes. “I just hope they’re not in heaven picking a team because I don’t want to be next.”Under Woolmer’s tutelage, Rhodes was transformed into the most electric fielder in the world, but he still had to hold down a place as a batsman alone. “My cover drive was beyond help,” he said, “but Bob adjusted it. Technically he was a good coach, but he had passion, and for me it was more the passion and his attitude towards coaching. He made it exciting, and he made it fun. It was not about ‘you have to do it this way’. He actually gave us options.”Every week we had the ‘Abuse the Coach’ award,” added Rhodes, “but Bob used to give as good as he got. I had an amazing relationship with him. He was more than just a coach, and he had a way of giving off of himself and it was something I could relate to. That made him more than a coach to me.”Woolmer was in charge of South Africa’s fortunes for five years from 1994, and Rhodes admitted that his departure – in the aftermath of the team’s traumatic exit from the 1999 World Cup – was a big loss that they are only now beginning to overcome. “Similar to Hansie’s leadership he wasn’t easy to replace,” said Rhodes.”In the same sort of way he too was an allrounder. He could be a batting coach and a bowling coach. Like Jacques Kallis, if you replace him with a batsman, the bowling side is weak, and if you replace him with a bowler, the batting side is weak. Bob had that allround ability as a coach, and that comes with the way I coach as well.”The emotions in the Australian camp, understandably, have not been running as high, although Mike Hussey spoke of the “hollow feeling” in the pit of his stomach that he has had since Sunday. “We’re pretty shocked by the news and it’s quite saddening. I had a great respect for the guy, he’s done a lot for world cricket and it’s disappointing news for everyone. All our condolences go out to the Woolmer family.”The latest revelations to have filtered out from Jamaica are uncomfortable for everyone associated with the game, although Hussey would not be drawn into the speculation surrounding Woolmer’s death. “I know they are doing the investigations and a lot of words are being thrown about,” he said. “But we’re very confident we have excellentsecurity in place, and we are very happy with how things have been run.”

Muttiah Muralitharan admits he has introduced changes into his game to keep batsmen under his spell.”I’m bowling really well around the wicket a lot at the moment and that’s a new tactic that can help me,” said Muralitharan. “It seems that when you can’t see which way the ball is going it’s harder. So hopefully that helps me in the future and I’ll take more wickets. People are getting ready for the spin, so if I bowl the ‘doosra’ I might get a top edge.”Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s captain, hailed the spinner. “He is always trying to take wickets and keeps the pressure on,” said Jayawardene. Muralitharan, one of the survivors of the 1996 title-winning team, took his tournament tally to 23, bettered only by Glenn McGrath, and his overall ODI career record to 455.Meanwhile it is expected that Farveez Maharoof might replace the struggling fast bowler Dilhara Fernando for the final against Australia. Fernando was warned twice for running on the pitch during the 81-run win over New Zealand at Sabina Park on Tuesday while his five overs cost 45 runs. Asantha de Mel, Sri Lanka’s chief selector, told the BBC they were not happy with Fernando’s form and that fellow seamer Farveez Maharoof is likely to get the nod.”Most probably it will be Maharoof,” said De Mel from the Caribbean. “We were not satisfied with Dilhara’s performance.” Maharoof was considered unlucky not to make the semi-final after he had taken 4 for 25 in Sri Lanka’s last Super Eights game against Ireland.De Mel also confirmed that Upul Tharanga would continue to open ahead of Marvan Atapattu. If Atapattu doesn’t play it will be the second time he has sat out an entire World Cup tournament. The same fate befell him when Sri Lanka won the title in 1996.Maharoof was named man-of-the-match against Ireland last week where he took four wickets, including three in an over, as well as pulling off a stunning run-out. Ironically, Maharoof, a former captain of his country’s Under-19 side, was only playing in that match in Grenada because Fernando had an ankle injury.”I got injured earlier in the tournament against Bangladesh but I just kept working hard in the nets,” said Maharoof. “This is my first World Cup and it is something I have been looking forward to ever since I became professional three years ago. All the bowlers have proved their class at the World Cup,” added Maharoof. “We have been talking about getting the basics right and putting the ball in the right areas.”

Veterans Jon Moss and Jason Arnberger have not had their Victoria contracts renewed for 2007-08, marking the second year in a row the Bushrangers have made major changes to their squad. Also losing their spots were the fast bowlers Rob Cassell and Brad Knowles, while seven new faces were added to the senior list.The removal of Arnberger, 34, was expected as a long-term back injury had kept him out of action for the entire 2006-07 season, although he has not officially retired. More of a surprise was the departure of Moss, 32, who has returned home to Sydney after being a regular in the Victoria side for the last seven seasons.Greg Shipperd, Victoria’s coach, said Moss and Arnberger had been tireless contributors for the Bushrangers since they both moved from New South Wales. “These two players have given tremendous service to Victorian cricket over a long period,” he said. “Arnie’s record places him among some of the best openers of his era, while Mossy has been a terrific allrounder who has provided match-winning contributions on many occasions.”The Bushrangers have promoted the batsman Aiden Blizzard from the rookie list and also gained the wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade from Tasmania. Clinton McKay and Darren Pattinson, two fast bowlers who made their first-class debuts last season when Victoria’s bowling stocks were dwindling, have been rewarded with state deals.Rob Quiney was named on the list after a promising start to his Pura Cup career. Age did not prove an issue for the legspinner Bryce McGain, who at 35 has been signed up to help cover for the retirement of Shane Warne and the possibility Cameron White will spend time in Australian colours. The allrounder John Hastings, 21, will bolster the fast-bowling brigade having moved from New South Wales.The state’s two new rookies are Michael Hill, 18, a left-hand batsman who is part of this year’s Academy intake, and James Pattinson, who was one of three players included in the Academy’s development squad in 2007. Pattinson, 17, joins his brother and fellow fast bowler Darren in Victoria’s plans for 2007-08.The injury-prone Cassell, who played all of his state cricket in 2002-03, was not offered a new contract as other fast bowlers overtook him in the selectors’ eyes. Another fast man, Knowles, was also axed after an injury-interrupted 2006-07.Peter Nevill’s position as the backup wicketkeeper was stolen by Wade, meaning his rookie contract was not renewed. Grant Baldwin, Matthew Gale and Matthew Harrison were also dropped from the rookie list.Squad Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite, Gerard Denton, Shane Harwood, John Hastings, Brad Hodge (Cricket Australia contract), David Hussey, Nick Jewell, Michael Klinger, Mick Lewis, Lloyd Mash, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Clinton McKay, Dirk Nannes, Darren Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade, Cameron White (CA), Allan Wise.Rookies Aaron Finch, Michael Hill, Jon Holland, James Pattinson.

by 9 wickets – D/L method
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

An efficient bowling effort was followed up by a couple of confident half-centuries as India rolled along to a thumping nine-wicket win in the rain-affected one-off one-dayer against Ireland at Belfast. It was a comprehensive way to start a three-month-long tour and a victory that would provide them a boost ahead of the three-match series against South Africa, starting in three days’ time.Ireland’s innings never really got going – the top-order fell to swing, the middle to wrist-spin – and it took a fighting half-century from Niall O’Brien to prop them up to 193. Showers interrupted play exactly at the halfway point, costing more than two-and-a-half hours and leading to the target being revised to 171 off 39 overs, but an effervescent 163-run stand between Gautam Gambhir and Sourav Ganguly sped India to victory.Gambhir and Ganguly were the expected opening combination but Tendulkar walked out early, for the first time in a one-dayer since early December last year. The move didn’t pay off, though, with Tendulkar lasting just three deliveries: not accounting for swing, he attempted to flick a full ball from off to leg, leaving the gate wide open. Roger Whelan, on his one-day debut, couldn’t have imagined a better start.It meant Gambhir, coming off a century on India’s recent tour to Bangladesh, was in as early as the second over, slapping and flashing to anything wide of the stumps. He’s always liked width, backing himself with those jabs, but there were other strokes too: a delectable straight-drive off medium-pacer Trent Johnston and a crackling pull when Kevin O’Brien dropped it short.At the other end, there was more left-handed class on show. Ganguly struggled with his timing and placement early on but soon unfurled the gorgeous strokes, lacing silken drives on the up and giving the cover fielders no chance. The events of the 11th over, from Kevin O’Brien, encapsulated his innings: second ball, full and outside off, driven to cover; third ball, full and outside off, driven to cover; fourth ball, outside off, driven between mid-off and cover for four; fifth ball, full and outside off, driven to cover; sixth ball, full and outside off, advances down the track and drills it emphatically past mid-off for four. Uncertainty followed by certitude followed by dominance. He rarely blinked thereafter and stamped his authority with a straight six off Whelan towards the end.

The base was laid by the bowlers earlier in the day, in conditions that were ideal for fielding first. Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh, bowlers with contrasting styles but similar curving deliveries, posed the early questions. Ironically, it was a straight delivery that produced the early breakthrough: Kenneth Carroll driving away from his body only for Dinesh Karthik to leap to his right and pull off a delightful catch.A scratchy yet consolidating partnership followed until Dominick Joyce drove loosely away from his body, getting a thicker edge that flew to Ganguly’s right at third slip. Ganguly surprised himself, and the sparse gathering that had turned up, with an athletic take, one that resulted in his 100th catch in one-dayers. William Porterfield managed an adhesive 46-ball 16, an innings which went well with the sleepy settings provided for this game and equally one that ensured that Ireland didn’t lose their way completely.Things got worse with the introduction of the 18-year-old legspinner, Piyush Chawla. Not the conventional sort of legspinner but one who relies on a flatter trajectory and a majority of googlies, Chawla had the Irish middle order in knots. A delightfully flighted topspinner undid Gary Wilson, who played around a full ball and was castled, before a googly lured Kevin O’Brien into a slog sweep, one that struck the top edge and got only as far as RP Singh at deep midwicket. Andrew White was flummoxed by a conventional legbreak that bounced a little extra and struck the outside edge.The situation was dire at 83 for 5 but Niall O’Brien produced a fighting knock, his fourth half-century in one-dayers. He wasn’t frustrated by the dot balls – a massive 224 of them in fact – and hung in there when wickets fell at the other end. Johnston’s was the more entertaining knock, cracking two sixes and a four towards the end, and boosted the total to close to 200 and set up some sort of a contest. Tendulkar’s early dismissal caused a few flutters but Ireland had little to cheer from then on.

The trial of former Zimbabwean Test batsman Mark Vermeulen, who is charged with arson attacks against Zimbabwe Cricket property in November, has been postponed to July. This is the fifth time that the case has been postponed since he first appeared in court in December.Prosecutor Tawanda Zvekare told a Harare magistrate that the case could not be heard as the state was still deliberating over medical reports relating to Vermeulen’s mental health.”The accused is to be remanded until July 11,” Zvekare said, adding that “the medical affidavit which we were waiting for has been compiled, and we are (still) making final deliberations”. Vermeulen remains free on bail although his passport has been confiscated. He faces two counts of arson and will face 25 years in prison with hard labour if convicted.He is accused of first trying to burn the ZC boardroom at the Harare Sports Club ground in October 2006 – the fire was quickly put out – and then burning down the pavilion at the Academy the following day. That fire destroyed the main building and it remains gutted.As part of his defence, Vermeulen has been examined by a psychiatrist. Another medical report from Australia describing the effects of a serious skull fracture he sustained in January 2004 in a one-day match against India has also been submitted.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the former West Indies captain, has been signed by Durham as a replacement for Scott Styris for the remainder of this season. His move to Durham was delayed due to work permit and visa problems.The batsman, named Man of the Series in the recently-concluded Test series between England and West Indies, will replace Styris whose stint with Durham was ended a week before his contract was due to expire after a series of niggling injuries.Geoff Cook, Durham’s head coach, said: “Signing a player of Shiv’s class is a statement of our intent for the rest of the season. He is in exceptional form at the moment and will provide valuable middle order runs while demonstrating what it takes to be a world-class batsman to some of our younger players.”With a number of important games and obviously the Lord’s final on the horizon, adding Shiv to the squad will give us extra batting options as we strive to make this Durham’s most successful season.”Chanderpaul, who will join the squad on Saturday, could make his first appearance for Durham as early as the following day against Surrey in a Pro40 match at Guildford. He will be available for the county until the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship starting on September 11.

Craig Spearman will see out his career at Gloucestershire, after signing a two-year extension to his contract.Spearman, 35, had one year left on the deal but the extension means he will be at Bristol until the end of 2010. He has been with the club since 2002. “I am happy to be finishing my career here,” he said, “and have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club.”Jon Lewis, Gloucestershire’s captain, added: “Craig’s been our most consistent batting performer since he joined. His experience and knowledge is invaluable to us.”Spearman played a strong part in this year’s Twenty20 success – Gloucestershire reached the final – including being named man of the match in the semi final.In June 2004, he scored 341 for Gloucestershire against Middlesex in the County Championship, surpassing a 128-year-old record, previously held by WG Grace, for the highest score by a Gloucestershire player.He has played 19 Tests and 51 ODIs for New Zealand.