Crowd trouble takes centre stage in Cuttack

Crowd trouble forced two interruptions in play during the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack as India slid to a six-wicket defeat against South Africa. Play was held up for more than 50 minutes during South Africa’s chase after spectators, largely from one section of the stadium, began throwing plastic bottles onto the field.The first bottle-throwing incident came in the break between innings – India were bowled out for 92, their lowest T20I total at home – and did not interrupt play. The second came after 11 overs of South Africa’s chase and stopped play for 27 minutes. The players remained in the middle through the delay and play resumed at 10pm, with security personnel lining the boundaries. However, a third wave of bottle-throwing two overs later forced them off. Play resumed after a 24-minute hold-up once the police had cleared the section of the crowd causing the disruption.South Africa required another 4.1 overs, which passed without further incident, to complete the chase and seal the series 2-0.The incident is the first case for the BCCI’s new president, Shashank Manohar, to handle and there would be several points of concern for the board in how the situation was dealt with on the spot in Cuttack.The matter did not come up at the post-match presentation ceremony, though both captains were interviewed by the broadcasters and could have been asked for their thoughts on it.The issue was raised at the subsequent press conference, however, and prompted this response from India’s captain MS Dhoni: “Frankly, from a safety point of view, I don’t think there was a very serious threat. A few of the powerful people from the crowd were good enough to throw the bottles inside the rope. So the umpires thought it was better that players go off the field for a while. The reaction of the crowd, you know, we didn’t play well, so at times you get reactions like this. It’s only the first bottle. After that they start throwing for fun. We shouldn’t read too much into it. I still remember we played in Vishakhapatnam once, we won the game very easily, and that time also a lot of bottles were thrown. It starts with the first bottle, and after that, you know, it is more fun for the spectators if they start doing it and following it.”The incident also raises questions about safety precautions at grounds in India, especially for high-profile matches like today’s. The standard procedure is for spectators who buy drinks at the ground to be given their liquid refreshments – whether water or soft drinks – in plastic cups, which cannot be used as missiles. How the spectators could carry bottles to their seats on Monday will be a matter for investigation.Also apparent was the lax security; when the match resumed after the break most of the policemen on the boundary could be seen watching the match rather than facing the crowd, as is standard procedure.

Struggling Zimbabwe target ODI relief

Match facts

Tuesday 14 July
Start time 0900 local time (0700 GMT)1:33

Agarkar: India must give Sandeep Sharma and Manish Pandey a chance

Big picture

India have achieved their main goal – sealing the series – so the third and final ODI provides scope for blooding a couple of uncapped players. Zimbabwe, who are in the midst of an eight-match ODI losing streak, have little but pride to play for.Individually, Zimbabwe’s players have shown that this team definitely contains talent. But they haven’t been able to pull all three facets of the game together. In both matches so far, India were offered a glimpse of Zimbabwe’s weaknesses, and despite the fine margin of their victory on Friday, they have generally looked the better side.Yet one feels Zimbabwe aren’t all that far behind this Indian team. Given a fully fit squad, in home conditions, at least one win is a distinct possibility. Unfortunately, the Zimbabweans have been hobbled by injury and have probably already blown their best chance of breaking their losing streak. Sean Williams is nursing a knee problem and is unlikely to play tomorrow.While the bowling has fired, India’s middle order still appears vulnerable. Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa and Kedar Jadhav have managed a combined 58 runs in a total of six innings. If Zimbabwe are able to exploit this, especially given the absence of the series’ leading run-scorer Ambati Rayudu, they may yet be able to pull off a win.

Form guide

(Last five completed matches, most recent first) Zimbabwe: LLLLL India: WWWLL

In the spotlight

In the absence of Solomon Mire, and with Elton Chigumbura playing primarily as a batsman, Zimbabwe needed an allrounder to balance their side. They appear to have found one in Chamu Chibhabha, who has contributed with both bat and ball in this series. Batting is his stronger suit – he’s averaged 44.42 in ODIs in 2015 – but the pitch at Harare Sports Club also suits his medium-pace bowling.The pressure is building on India’s middle-order batsmen. With this series billed as something of an audition for a slot in the first XI, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa and Kedar Jadhav have averaged 12.00, 6.50 and 10.00 respectively. India have still managed to win both games, but they’ll want more from this trio in the final match.

Team news

Zimbabwe’s hand has been forced by injuries to key members of their squad. Opening bowler Tinashe Panyangara sustained a side strain in the first match, and batsman Sean Williams injured his right knee in the second. With the help of painkillers and heavy strapping, Williams batted during Zimbabwe’s chase, but team physio Anesu Mupotaringa suspects patella tendonitis. Williams went for scans on Monday morning and it’s unlikely the team management will risk aggravating his injury.So Zimbabwe may want to give players such as Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya and Roy Kaia a run. Craig Ervine may also be back to full fitness, as he underwent a test, including sprints, with no apparent discomfort on Monday afternoon.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Hamilton Masakada, 4 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 5 Roy Kaia/Craig Ervine, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Neville Madziva, 11 Chris Mpofu.A right quadriceps injury to Ambati Rayudu will also necessitate changes to India’s XI. Twenty-year-old wicketkeeper Sanju Samson has been called into the squad and it suggests pressure on Robin Uthappa’s place. With the series sealed, India might think about offering debuts to Manish Pandey and Sandeep Sharma, and perhaps give Mohit Sharma some match practice ahead of the T20s. India (probable): 1 M Vijay, 2 Ajinkya Rahane (captain), 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Manoj Tiwary, 5 Kedar Jadhav, 6 Sanju Samson/ Robin Uthappa (wk), 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Sandeep Sharma.

Pitch and conditions

A third, fresh pitch will be used for this match, and in appearance it is very similar to the first two: dry, with a modest grass covering. It should be reasonably good for batting, with the side batting first looking to score at least 250. The pitch is on the far right of the square, and so the short boundary to the west may affect team tactics. Another bright, sunny day is expected.

Stats and trivia

  • Zimbabwe’s win-loss record is 6-22 when chasing scores of between 240 and 275 in ODIs since 2005.
  • The very first ODI played at Harare Sports Club was between Zimbabwe and India in October 1992. India have played 17 ODIs here, and have won 12 times.
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the leading wicket-taker in this series, with five wickets at an average of 13.60 and an economy rate of 3.40.

Quotes

“We’re just going to go out there and play for pride, and for our supporters as well.”
“I asked him why I was being congratulated and he told me I had been selected to the Indian team.”

Jaques century earns draw for Worcestershire

Division One

Harbhajan Singh claimed five wickets in the second innings at Guildford, but the match ended in a draw © Martin Williamson

Phil Jaques’ second century of the season guided Worcestershire to a draw against Surrey at Guildford. His 103 carried the visitors into the lead alongside half-centuries from Stephen Moore (54) and Ben Smith (66). Worcestershire were never really in danger on the final day once Jaques and Smith added 112 for the third wicket. Harbhajan Singh claimed all five batsmen to fall, taking his match haul to nine, but couldn’t grab breakthroughs in clusters to earn Surrey a victory. A draw wasn’t what either side needed from the match with both of them stuck in the two relegation places.John Crawley struck a fine century, but Hampshire couldn’t force a win against Sussex at the Rose Bowl, despite handing them a scare with three early wickets. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took out Hampshire’s middle order, but Crawley held firm and reached his hundred off 148 balls. Once Crawley had taken Hampshire to a second batting point, Shane Warne declared and Sussex’s top order wobbled. James Bruce, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Daren Powell did the damage and suddenly the pressure was on. Murray Goodwin and Chris Adams calmed the nerves with a stand of 89 and Hampshire took nine points to their opponents’ seven.Younis Khan hit an unbeaten double-century as Yorkshire and Kent played out a draw at Scarborough

Division Two

Derbyshire were decimated by Charl Willoughby and Andy Caddick, capitulating for 52 as Somerset completed a 278-run win at Derby. Chasing 331 after yesterday’s negotiations, the home side was soon in tatters at 13 for 5 as Willoughby claimed four of the top five. The spinners Ian Blackwell and Cameron White then ran through the tail as Derbyshire folded inside 28 overs. Ant Botha was the only batsman to reach double-figures before falling to Blackwell for 21.Chris Taylor’s 101 almost enabled Gloucestershire to turn impending defeat into victory against Essex at Bristol in a match played over one innings after rain washed out the first three days. After being inserted Gloucestershire slumped to 23 for 4 and 122 for 8 against impressive bowling from Andy Bichel and Ravi Bopara. They claimed eight wickets between them, but Taylor found support from Steve Kirby and Ben Edmondson as the last two wickets added a priceless 62. Gloucestershire’s attack then repeated the damage to the visitors with Kirby’s four wickets sending Essex sliding to 89 for 7. But Bichel (22 not out) and Alex Tudor (16 not out) held firm in the closing stages and the honours were shared.The match at Abergavenny between Glamorgan and Leicestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled due to unsafe run-ups. “It’s a shame for all concerned and especially Abergavenny Cricket Club, but unfortunately we had to do the right thing and the run-ups were just not fit,” the umpire Barrie Leadbeater said.3rd dayCenturies from Stephen Fleming and Mark Wagh put Nottinghamshire in the driver’s seat against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Fleming struck 19 fours and a six in his 100, adding 112 for the second wicket with Wagh, before he was stumped off Jason Brown. Wagh then combined with Samit Patel (54) to add another 111. Wagh took 174 deliveries for his third Championship ton of the season and Nottinghamshire are poised to take a lead. Earlier, the home side added 102 to their total mainly through the efforts of Johann van der Wath, who struck an unbeaten 59, and an eighth-wicket stand of 69 with David Lucas.

Team Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts
Yorkshire 11 3 1 0 7 0 139
Sussex 10 4 2 0 4 0 123
Hampshire 10 3 1 0 6 0 109
Warwickshire 10 2 1 0 7 0 109
Durham 10 3 4 0 3 0 107.5
Lancashire 9 2 0 0 6 1 99
Kent 10 2 3 0 4 1 98
Surrey 10 1 4 0 5 0 84
Worcestershire 10 0 4 0 4 2 59
Team Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts
Somerset 11 6 1 0 4 0 168
Nottinghamshire 11* 4 1 0 5 0 143.5
Essex 11 3 2 0 6 0 124
Derbyshire 10 2 2 0 6 0 100
Northamptonshire 10* 3 4 0 2 0 96
Middlesex 9 3 1 0 5 0 95.5
Leicestershire 11 1 4 0 5 1 88
Gloucestershire 10 1 4 0 5 0 74
Glamorgan 9 1 5 0 2 1 57

* – match still ongoing

Maddy leads Leicestershire to Twenty20 title

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Darren Maddy was the star of the final with an unbeaten 86, a wicket and two vital catches © Getty Images

Darren Maddy and Jim Allenby inspired Leicestershire to their second Twenty20 title as they held their nerve to claim a last-over victory, by four runs, against Nottinghamshire at a packed and excited Trent Bridge. With heavy rain falling in the closing stages it was anyone’s game, but Leicestershire’s experience in tight situations counted as Allenby stayed calm in the final over.Maddy and Allenby shared a stand of 133 as Leicestershire made the highest total in a final, but Stephen Fleming, with a 34-ball fifty, and David Hussey were threatening to replicate that stand as they added 57 for the second wicket. But they fell in consecutive overs; Fleming to a fine running catch from Ryan Cummins from deep square-leg and Hussey to the continually impressive Stuart Broad.When Hussey was caught at cover, Nottinghamshire needed 69 off 38 balls with two new batsmen at the crease but they never gave in. The task got harder when Chris Read top-edged a sweep to short fine-leg, but Mark Ealham – who earlier in the season took 30 of an over against Leicestershire to win a group match – helped dispatch Cummins for 19 off the 17th over.The requirement was down to 37 off 18 balls and Leicestershire’s decision to play Cummins in place of Adam Griffith, their Tasmanian overseas seamer, was looking costly. But Leicestershire know how to win these matches. Allenby was brought on for the 18th over and was taken for two early fours, but Ealham then lofted to Maddy at long-off to swing the contest.Paul Franks and Samit Patel kept on going for it, but 17 from the final over proved one blow too many. However, the match ended in a hint of controversy as Allenby’s final ball – a full toss sent for a towering six by Will Smith – was perilously close to being called a no-ball. It wasn’t and Leicestershire launched into their celebrations, with Allenby and Maddy the central figures.”It was amazing – not the conventional route – and we’d thought lost it at onestage but the guys were brilliant towards the end,” said Jeremy Snape, the Leicestershire captain. “We’ve worked really hard this year and put in great performances throughout thegroup and knockout stages.”Maddy, the first player to pass 1000 runs in Twenty20, claimed the man-of-the-match award and he’d played a central role throughout the game. As in their semi-final, against Essex, he and HD Ackerman were cautious at the start against the testing seam bowling of Ryan Sidebottom and Charlie Shreck. The Nottinghamshire opening pair bowled their overs straight through but only managed one wicket, when Ackerman dragged Sidebottom into his stumps.After a brief period of consolidation, Maddy – dropped via a tough chance on 13 – began to work through the gears as the slower bowlers came into the attack. He peppered the legside by clearing his front leg and swinging across the line, while both he and Allenby sprinted between the wickets as Nottinghamshire’s fielders began to look slightly ragged. Maddy’s fifty came off 42 balls and Allenby soon followed off 36 balls and the century stand came off 63 deliveries.Cheered on by a vocal sell-out crowd, with a large proportion of home support, Nottinghamshire pushed Leicestershire every inch of the way. However, Twenty20 cricket is decided by the finest of margins and the smallest moments. Leicestershire know how to win those moments and have confirmed themselves as the domestic kings of Twenty20.

Giles rounds on his critics

Ashley Giles: not in a celebratory mood © Getty Images

Ashley Giles has rounded on his critics after England’s failure in the first Test at Lord’s, by suggesting that a selection of former players would rather see Australia retain the Ashes than watch the current England side achieve what they themselves failed to do.”That might sound bitter, but that’s the way it feels,” Giles was quoted as saying in The Daily Mail. “Michael Vaughan has taken a lot of flak, so has Geraint Jones, so have I. We expected some if we lost, but there has been an amazing amount of stuff hitting the fan.”Giles’s position in the side has come under particular scrutiny, after he contributed 11 expensive and wicketless overs to the 239-run defeat in the first Test at Lord’s. He contributed little with the bat either, and could come under pressure to retain his place as the series progresses.”It’s at times like that when you think, ‘If this is what people think, bugger them’. I am fighting a losing battle here,” added Giles. “But then the other part of you says, ‘Sod them, I’ll get on with it.'”

Waugh to relight Sydney's Olympic flame

Waugh: singled out for another honour© Getty Images

After weeks of speculation, it has been decided that Steve Waugh will be the final Olympic torch-bearer in the Sydney leg of the Athens torch relay. It had been believed that Cathy Freeman, a gold medallist at the Sydney Games four years ago would be given the honour, but instead it has gone to Waugh, who was named Australian of the Year earlier in 2004.Waugh, who will light the cauldron at Homebush Bay, admitted that it would be a momentous occasion. “It’s a huge honour to be part of the Olympic flame torch relay,” he told the Sun-Herald newspaper. “I enjoyed the experience leading into the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and to be doing it again for Athens is equally exciting and another huge honour.”According to the newspaper, the torch relay will begin at the Sydney Opera House on Friday morning, and will include an A-Z of Australia’s sporting heroes, including Kieren Perkins, Dawn Fraser, Raelene Boyle and the wheelchair athlete Louise Sauvage. Speaking about the occasion, John Coates, the Australian Olympic Committee president, said: “Steve Waugh is a great Australian and a champion athlete who typifies our fighting spirit and it is appropriate that he relights the Olympic cauldron.”

Papua New Guinea and Fiji: next stops on MCC touring programme

An MCC squad will leave Lord’s this afternoon to play and promote cricket in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.Managed by Jack Birkenshaw (the former England player), the squad includes Steve Kirby (the Yorkshire fast bowler), Robin Weston (the Middlesex batsman) and Colin Metson (the former Glamorgan wicket-keeper).MCC will play four fixtures in Papua New Guinea and six in Fiji – including three matches against the Fijian national side.In common with other MCC tours, the trip has been planned in conjunction with the International Cricket Council with the twin aims of increasing international interest in cricket and enabling Papua New Guinea and Fiji to assess the extent of their recent cricketing progress. Past MCC tours have helped emerging cricket nations – including several participants in the current ICC World Cup – move to Test or one-day status. (They include Bangladesh and Kenya.)Commenting on the trip to Papua New Guinea and Fiji, MCC’s Head of Cricket, Tony Dodemaide, said:

"Only three weeks ago, an MCC team returned from a trip to Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Today, our squad will fly to Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and, later this month, an MCC team will play in Nepal.Together with our matches in Test-playing countries – including Australia and New Zealand – these trips show our determination to promote cricket worldwide.They are proving increasingly important in cricket development terms. We’re proud to have played our part in helping several countries – such as Canada and Kenya – prepare so well for the World Cup.We’re also delighted that a current MCC Young Cricketer, Daan van Bunge, has been representing Holland in the competition, while two England players, Ashley Giles and Ian Blackwell, are `graduates’ of MCC’s School of Merit".

The fixtures on the tour are:

8th March Prime Minister’s XI vs MCC Amini Park9th March Chairman’s XI vs MCC Amini Park11th March Motu Koitabu XI vs MCC Amini Park12th March Central Province XI vs MCC Amini Park15th March President’s XI vs MCC Albert Park16th March Fiji vs MCC Albert Park17th March Combined High Commission Diplomats vs MCC Albert Park18th March Fiji vs MCC Albert Park21st March Western Combined XI vs MCC Namaka School22nd March Fiji vs MCC Namaka School

The tour will also include two coaching sessions, in Fiji, for local schools.

C & G quarter-finals preview

Yorkshire go into their C & G quarter-final clash against Warwickshire as strong favourites.They inflicted on Warwickshire their lowest ever one-day league score on Monday night, and will be strengthened further by the return of England players Gough and White – if selected.They beat a strong Surrey side in the previous round too, and are runaway leaders in the CricInfo Championship. But they are taking nothing for granted and are still looking to improve in some areas.”The lads have been buoyed by the result against Surrey, but we’re still conscious of areas of weakness,” David Byas, the captain said.”We batted brilliantly at the end, but the performance in the first half of that game, when we were fielding, was woeful. We’ll be hoping to cement our game, maybe we need to relax and chill out more.”But it will be a difficult fixture against Warwickshire. I’ve not seen much of them this season but they’re a wonderful one-say side and their record speaks for itself. It’s anybody’s game.”This is our last chance at a one-day trophy this year so we’ll be keen to succeed.”Meanwhile Warwickshire coach, Bob Woolmer, admits that Monday’s debacle is a factor in this game.”We’ll have to pick our strategy carefully as there will be a few factors involved, like the pitch, the weather and Monday’s result,” he reasoned.”It’s good to get to the quarter-finals in any competition and we’ve done pretty well in the Trophy in recent years. It’s a big game and we’re playing good cricket at the moment, which we want to carry forward into it.”And although Yorkshire have had something of an up-and-down season in the one-day game, they’re still a very good side. I thought they were struggling against Surrey in the last round, but in the end they cruised to victory.”Lancashire go into their C & G quarter-final game against Durham in confident form.”We’re going to approach the game in a very aggressive, very confident manner,” Lancashire coach Bobby Simpson said.”I think we’ve turned the corner now, we’re out of the maze in terms of the one-day game. We’ve started to play very well and we’re obviously growing in confidence. And once you get on a run in this competition, you fancy you can go all the way.”Lancashire’s headquarters, Old Trafford, is being used for a Robbie Williams concert, so the teams meet at Blackpool Cricket Club. But far from bemoaning the waste of home advantage, Simpson claims to be glad of a trip to the seaside.”It’s a good ground,” he insists. “There’ll be a good crowd up there who’ll provide some fantastic support. It should be packed out.”Durham coach, Martyn Moxon, acknowledged his side’s record against Lancashire this season, but refused to read too much into it.”We’ve beaten them twice already this year but that won’t have too much bearing on the outcome of this one. Like every other game we’ll start at 0 for 0 on the day. But we won’t be over-confident as we know Lancashire are one of the best teams in the country and their record in one-day cricket is very good, so we’ll have to play at our best.”Steve Harmison is out for the visitors with a chest infection, while Nicky Phillips is out with a broken finger.Kent host Somerset at Canterbury. Kent captain, Matthew Fleming, is an injury doubt for the game but believes that his side will pose awkward opposition for the West Country side.”We’ve already beaten Somerset once this season, and tied with them on another occasion so I’m sure they’ll be talking about us as much as we’ll be talking about them,” Fleming said.”It would be nice to go to Lord’s this year but we’re still two games away from that. We’re having a good season and it would be lovely to win. But we are near the top of the National League and doing well in the CricInfo Championship.”So although every game is important, if we lost this one it wouldn’t be the end of our season by any means.”Somerset are boosted by the return to county ranks of their Test players, Trescothick and Caddick.It was Trescothick’s brutal innings of 121 from 83 balls that eased his team into the quarter-finals and captain, Jamie Cox, is delighted to have him back.”He’ll be a key player in every side he’s in for the rest of his career,” Cox said. “And he’s a fantastic player for our side. We’re going okay at the moment, although we’ve dropped a few games we shouldn’t have this season.”It’s too early to start talking about silverware but we’ve certainly got a side capable of winning this competition. We’ve been close in the last couple of years and we’ve had nothing to show for it, so we’ll be trying like hell to put that right.”

Mumbai bowlers shock Rajasthan

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Ashish Nehra’s three wickets had Rajasthan on the hop after being asked to bat first in Mumbai (file photo) © Getty Images
 

Mumbai’s medium-pacers bowled a clever mix of bouncers, slower balls and cutters to restrict Rajasthan to a 103, the lowest first-innings total of the IPL, on a two-paced pitch at the DY Patil Stadium before some sensible batting sealed a hat-trick of triumphs for the home team. In what was their second successive upset victory, after taming Delhi on Sunday, Mumbai prevailed over the table leaders yet again.The pitch wasn’t conducive to stroke-play: balls stopped, kept low and batsmen didn’t find their timing easily. The experienced trio of Shaun Pollock, Ashish Nehra and Dwayne Bravo were canny with their variations but it was impressive to see the unheralded duo of Dhaval Kulkarni and Rohan Raje break the back of Rajasthan’s line-up.Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t fit for today’s game but he had the satisfaction of seeing a wicket fall almost every time the commentators cut to have a word with him. He was particularly thrilled with the performance of Kulkarni and Raje, young turks who utilised the conditions perfectly. Nehra finished as the most effective bowler, adding two tailenders to Yusuf Pathan’s wicket early on to finish with 3 for 13; Bravo showed the power of the slower ball; and Pollock yet again proved the value of experience.The fact that the Mumbai wicketkeeper Yogesh Takawale pouched three skiers, when top-edges ballooned off the bat, showed the slow nature of the surface. Even Mumbai’s batsmen weren’t fluent with their strokeplay but a few lucky breaks ensured a comfortable victory. Shane Watson struck twice – taking the wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya who pulled one to deep square leg – and Shane Warne struck with his very first ball, removing Takawale with a slider. However, Robin Uthappa’s 34 was enough to take Mumbai past the finish line.The match, though, was decided by the end of Rajasthan’s innings. Pollock, whose decision to field first appeared to be a bold one, nipped out Graeme Smith early though even he would have been surprised at the manner of the dismissal. Smith backed away, took a stride out of his crease, missed an in-cutter from Pollock and kept walking. Had he looked back, he would have seen Takawale fumble the ball but the fact the he kept going allowed an easy stumping.It was only the 53-run stand between Swapnil Asnodkar and Watson that made some sort of recovery for Rajasthan. Both batsmen put away loose balls and Watson even showed the value of hitting straight against the spin of Sanath Jayasuriya. It took an injudicious swipe from Watson to end the stand – Bravo working him out from around the wicket – and what followed was a forgettable collapse.Raje forced Mohammad Kaif and Asnodkar to go for big shots and had them caught in the deep, while Kulkarni removed Ravindra Jadeja and Shane Warne with short balls. Jadeja top edged while going for the pull and was athletically caught by Takawale, while Warne’s attempted slap through the off side ended in an easier skier for the wicketkeeper.The tail didn’t have much of a chance against the slower balls – indicated aptly by a tantalising one from Bravo that ended the innings. It was Rajasthan’s first defeat in six games and they slipped to second place, behind the Kings XI Punjab, in the points table.

Blues name Thorpe as assistant coach

Graham Thorpe will broaden his coaching role with New South Wales next season © Getty Images

Graham Thorpe will continue his association with New South Wales as the state’s assistant coach for 2007-08. Thorpe will fill the gap created when Matthew Mott became the Blues’ senior coach after Trevor Bayliss was placed in charge of Sri Lanka.Thorpe, 37, scored 6744 runs at 44.66 in 100 Tests for England and spent 18 years as a first-class cricketer before moving to Sydney in 2005-06 to work with New South Wales as a specialist batting coach. His new role will include taking the reins of the state’s Second XI.”I’m absolutely delighted to be offered the position and very much look forward to the challenge,” Thorpe said. “This represents the next chapter of my cricket career and I intend to give it my all. I’ve enjoyed working with the squad over the past two seasons and can’t wait to start my new role when I return to Australia next month.”David Gilbert, the chief executive of Cricket New South Wales, said the appointments of Mott and Thorpe gave the Blues some stability leading into next season. “To have a player of Graham’s international experience working with our squad, particularly our young talented players, will be tremendous,” Gilbert said.New South Wales reached the Pura Cup final last summer but lost to Tasmania. However, they were disappointing in the shorter forms of the game and finished last in both the Ford Ranger Cup and the KFC Twenty20 competition.

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