Middlesex Crusaders secured a six wicket victory over Glamorgan Dragons at Cardiff in the last round of National League matches.With three needed of the final ball young Irishman Joyce took an ambitious swing, and bottom edged the ball to the third man boundary.A nail biting finish never seemed on the cards after seamer Aaron Laraman had taken a career best 6-42 to restrict the Glamorgan Dragons to an under par 191-9. The Welshmen relied heavily on in form Michael Powell and his better than a run a ball contribution of 86 with 8 fours and a six off Ramprakash.Middlesex Crusaders seemed to be cruising, with Langer remaining undefeated on 75, but when Ramprakash top edged a hook, and Laraman was bowled the innings faltered, and the Londoners were grateful for Joyce’s fortuitous last ball heave.It was a sad ending for Maynard who was also dismissed for 0 in his last game as Glamorgan’s captain.

Valuable knocks by JP Yadav and Amay Khurasiya helped Madhya Pradeshto score 214 for five off 90 overs at stumps on the first dayof their Central Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Rajasthanat Gwalior on Monday.Winning the toss, MP were given a steady start with openers Yadav and AnkitShrivastav (17) putting on 40 runs off 20 overs. Then came the best part of the batting with Yadav and Khurasiya adding 114 runs for the second wicket off 36.4 overs. But at 154, MP suffered a double blow. First, Yadav was bowled by Rahul Kanwat for 70. He faced 162 balls and hit seven fours. In the following over, Khurasiya was leg before to Krishan Kumar for 59. Khurasiya faced 126 balls and had just one boundary hit.There was another double blow for MP shortly afterwards when at 174 theylost two more wickets, those of Abbas Ali (17) and Devendra Bundela (4).However Nikhil Patvardhan (21) and CA Pandit (14) added 40 runs for theunbroken fifth wicket off 23.4 overs to put their side in a more comfortingframe of mind at close of play.

Alastair Cook praised his team’s attacking mindset after England wrapped up a comprehensive 169-run victory in the first Investec Test in Cardiff, adding that they had absorbed the hard lessons of defeat in Australia two years ago but turned their thoughts to the future.Victory was sealed with a full day to spare after Australia collapsed to 242 all out chasing an improbable 412 for victory. Joe Root, the Man of the Match for his first-day 134, took the winning catch off the bowling of Moeen Ali, who finished with five wickets in his maiden Ashes Test to go alongside his first-innings 77.Cook, who won the Ashes on home soil in 2013 but also presided over England’s 5-0 whitewash in Australia, said that there had been no point in his players dwelling on what had gone before, especially with so many new faces in the team who did not play a part in that contest.”It’s like the press conference before the game, everyone was talking about the past but we can’t control that,” Cook told Sky Sports. “Yeah, we were disappointing in Australia but this is here, a different side, with different players and we had to look forward.”We’ve got an experienced four or five guys and some who are really inexperienced in terms of Ashes cricket. You can’t change the past, there’s nothing to write about, but you can try to learn from it and I thought the way the guys went about their business in this game [was great].”You always try to take the attacking option, always hunting for wickets with the ball, and we took some good catches as well.”Few catches were better than the one-handed grab at short midwicket that Cook himself clung on to to remove the dangerous Brad Haddin for 7. He put that down to some hard work during England’s four-day training camp in Spain prior to the start of the series.”Most people thought we were going for a holiday,” he said. “But alongside the golf, the catching was very important. There were a few sore hands but it’s paid off.”Cook said that his players intended to enjoy their Saturday night off in Cardiff before turning their attentions to the second Test at Lord’s, which gets underway on Thursday.”This Test match couldn’t have gone any better,” he said. “We are going to enjoy tonight, enjoy the success and hopefully come back to put in back-to-back performances at Lord’s.”We’ve got a good mix,” he added. “The enthusiasm is there, you only have to look at our football in the morning, the guys are loving being around each other. It’s been a good four days, and it obviously helps when are on top.”Cook singled out Root for particular praise, given the manner in which he salvaged England’s position on the tense first day of the contest. “The way Joe Root played, to be 43 for 3 and score 134 on the first day of an Ashes series when the tension is there was fantastic and the bowlers were superb on a pretty slow wicket.”

Steady rain all day threatened to cause an abandonment without the Australians even leaving their team hotel. They spent much of the day watching the Women’s Ashes Test at a sunnier Canterbury, before the coach Darren Lehmann and his opposite number David Ripley brokered a late start.The plan was for a toss at 4.30pm and then 30 overs from 5pm, but the rain returned just as the Australian team bus turned into Wantage Road. So it was that a three-day fixture was trimmed back to two, coincidentally the same length of the match between these two sides in 2013. Steven Smith must wait one more day to toss a coin as Australia’s full-time captain.

Scorecard1:42

Australia hold off England at the Ageas Bowl

A seventh-wicket partnership of 112 in 13 overs between Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh proved the difference between the sides in the first ODI of the series between England and Australia in Southampton.When the pair came together Australia were precariously placed on 193 for 6 and had just lost three wickets for 15 runs. But Wade, timing the ball as well as anyone, produced his highest ODI score since August 2012 – and his highest ever against a Full Member nation – as Australia added 93 from the final 10 overs.That took Australia’s total above 300 and, while the game has changed up to a point, the fact remains that England have only three times successfully chased a target of that magnitude. Only once have they successfully chased a target higher than the one they were set here.There was talk, at the halfway stage of the game, that the Australia total was little better than par. And it is true that, in the context of the run-drenched ODI series against New Zealand earlier this season, a score of 305 seemed pretty modest.But maybe in time we will come to see that series – played on perfect batting pitches and with playing regulations that favoured batsmen to an extreme extent – as somewhat aberrational. This was the first ODI in England played under the new playing regulations which allow the fielding captain more scope to defend. It is too early to say for sure what the effects will be, but it seems reasonable to presume they will rein in totals just a little.England’s openers set off well enough but eventually, against a disciplined attack, the pressure of sustaining such a run chase began to tell. And, once their innings lost momentum, wickets followed.This was a performance that represented a fine return from Wade. He missed out on World Cup selection after Brad Haddin’s superior keeping and extra experience – and his own failure to nail down a place in the 47 ODIs he had played up to that point – was favoured.Until that point, Wade was averaging in the mid-20s and, after a decent start to his ODI career (he made three half-centuries in his first nine innings), had contributed just one half-century in 22 innings.He didn’t enjoy a good start here, either. Attempting to get off the mark, he pushed a delivery straight to the cover fielder – Ben Stokes of all people – and set off for an almost impossible run that left his partner, the unfortunate Shane Watson, yards short of his ground.But after that moment of madness, he demonstrated a fine range of strokes, a selflessness and an ability to improvise – one sweep off Stokes was especially eye-catching – to suggest that, aged 27, he has the ability, the time and now the maturity to make a success of his second chance in international cricket. He also kept athletically and claimed three catches.Certainly Australia were grateful for his contribution. While David Warner and Joe Burns ensured a bright enough start, Australia lost their way in mid-innings due to the introduction of England’s spinners and some self-inflicted errors. First Burns hit a full toss straight back at the bowler, before Steven Smith slogged another straight to the fielder on the deep midwicket boundary.Adil Rashid was the fortunate bowler on both occasions but, in between times, this was a decent performance from the legspinner. Encouraged to think of himself as a wicket-taking bowler, even in this format of the game, he turned the ball both ways and generally maintained a decent, demanding length. On another day the wicket of Warner, who again looked in fine form but was defeated by a googly and sliced to short third man, might have proved crucial, while Rashid could also take pride in the wicket of George Bailey, beaten by one that skidded on.Moeen Ali, gaining more drift and dip than at any time this summer, also bowled nicely and was the most economical of England’s bowlers. But the seamers claimed only one wicket between them – and that from what might well have been called a leg side wide had Glenn Maxwell not feathered it – which gave Australia the opportunity to launch a counterattack in the final overs.England’s reply started well, too. Jason Roy, timing the ball as well as he ever has done in an England shirt, raced to his maiden international half-century and with Alex Hales posted a first-wicket stand of 70 in 11 overs. It is a partnership of elegant brutality that promises much for the future.But after Hales pulled to midwicket, James Taylor was unable to capitalise on his decent start and became bogged down against the impressively tight bowling of Watson and Maxwell. Roy sliced to point, Taylor played across a straight one and Eoin Morgan’s uncomfortable innings was ended when he gloved an attempted pull down the leg side.That wicket seemed to break the back of England’s resistance. Stokes’ unconvincing innings was ended by a flick to midwicket, Jos Buttler drive to mid-off and, with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins bowling with impressive pace, the tail were never likely to stay with Moeen long enough to get close.England have now lost 10 of their last 11 ODIs against Australia. The margin was not as large as the last time they met – on the opening day of the World Cup in February – but Australia showed that, even with four changes to the side that lifted that trophy, they remain a tough team to beat in ODI cricket.

Steve Camacho, the former West Indies batsman, has died at the age of 69. He passed away on Friday night in Antigua, the WICB said.Camacho played 11 Tests for West Indies between 1968 and 1971, scoring 640 runs. He also went on to play 76 first-class matches as a right-handed top order batsman, scoring 4079 runs including seven centuries and 24 half-centuries. Camacho even captained the West Indies President’s XI against various touring teams.After his retirement as a professional player in 1978, Camacho served as the manager of the West Indies team during the 1980s. He later acted as the secretary of the then West Indies Cricket Board of Control, before becoming the first full-time employee of the WICB, as the CEO.Dave Cameron, the WICB president, described Camacho as “a true stalwart, champion and leader of the game” in West Indies. “As a player, he represented Guyana and West Indies with pride and played his part in helping to grow the game. He was a mentor for several younger players in club cricket and played a major role in nurturing their development,” Cameron said.”He cared about the game and the people around him. He was very professional and hardworking and had the common touch. He kept in tune with the needs of the players, the staff he worked with, all who participated in West Indies cricket, and all those who cared and loved the game he served.”

Corey Anderson’s 18-ball 42 and wickets from Jono Boult and Anton Devcich helped Northern Districts to a 12-run win over Canterbury.Put in to bat, Northern Districts were reduced to 56 for 3 by the tenth over. Anderson led the recovery, adding 44 off 26 deliveries with Dean Brownlie for the fourth wicket. Ed Nuttall dismissed Anderson in the 16th over with the score at 123, and Northern Districts’ surge at the end came from Daryl Mitchell who struck 24 off 13 deliveries, before he was run out off the final ball of the innings.Aiden Blizzard, who scored 69 off 53 deliveries, was the common factor in two partnerships of 44 and 53 runs for the second and third wicket with Henry Nicholls and Peter Fulton respectively. Northern Districts, however, kept chipping away at the wickets. Boult and Devcich picked up two wickets apiece as Canterbury were eventually restricted to 160 for 6 in their 20 overs.Neil Broom’s unbeaten 70 steered Otago to a seven-wicket victory in Dunedin after their bowlers, led by Bradley Scott, had limited Wellington to 139 for 6. The win extended Otago’s run at the top of the points table, giving them a four-point lead over second-placed Northern Districts.Broom shared a 105-run opening partnership with Anaru Kitchen, setting base for Otago’s comfortable chase of 140, as he completed his second fifty-plus score in the last three matches. Broom’s knock came off 53 deliveries and included five fours and three sixes.Earlier, Otago’s bowlers tied Wellington down after their openers, Alecz Day and Michael Papps, had started the innings with a 55-run stand. Wellington struggled to stitch partnerships together once the opening stand was broken and Scott’s 3 for 25 limited their scoring at the death.Matthew Quinn (3 for 46) and Donovan Grobbelaar(2 for 33) staved off a tough challenge from Central Districts to help Auckland defend a total of 217 by 10 runs.Quinn and Grobbelaar’s stellar performance choked Central Districts’ chase in the death overs, as Quinn removed Will Young (96) and Josh Clarkson for a duck in 17th over. Defending 23 in the last over, Grobbelaar accounted for the well-set Tom Bruce (46) off the first ball of the over, virtually sealing Auckland’s victory.Quinn accounted for opener George Worker in the first over, after which Central Districts’ chase was built around Young’s 96, which came off only 50 balls. Young combined with Indika Senaratne and Bruce to put on 67 and 68 for the second and fourth wickets respectively.Auckland managed a mammoth 217 in the first innings thanks to Colin Munro’s 89 and Colin de Grandhomme’s unbeaten 49. The pair shared a 133-run partnership in the last nine overs, at a scoring rate of nearly 14. Munro’s 89 comprised eight sixes and five fours.

With the flick of a coin, Hyderabad ruined Mumbai’s best laidplans. Mohammed Azharuddin began well, winning the toss and puttingMumbai in to bat. The preparation of the wicket and indeed their teamcomposition banked on the fact that Mumbai would get the first go withthe ball. Denying them this advantage, Hyderabad did well to restrictMumbai to 303/6 on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final at theWankhede stadium on Wednesday, despite a fighting century from VinodKambli.Nevertheless, Mumbai had the batting to set up a good platform.Sameer Dighe and Wasim Jaffer took on Narendrapal Singh and Fiaz Ahmedin an interesting first few overs. Though the two Hyderabad mediumpacers generated good nip off the wicket, it took them six overs tobreak through.Dighe left his bat hanging limply in the air outside the off stump andedged a Fiaz Ahmed delivery straight to Azharuddin at slip. Azhar hastaken too many catches at that position to miss out.Jatin Paranjpe joined an increasingly confident Jaffer out in themiddle and pushed the scoring on. At the end of the 10th over, spin inthe form of Venkatapathy Raju was introduced into the attack. Rajubowled a tidy little spell but was taken off after he had completedthree overs conceding just four runs.Narendrapal had his first wicket when Jaffer slashed a ball from wideoutside off stump straight to Raju at point. Jafffer looked good formore but succumbed on 32.That short man with the stout heart and broad blade walked out to themiddle amidst rapturous applause from an adoring Mumbai crowd. SachinTendulkar was once again in command of the proceedings. Every looseball on offer was treated with generous servings of contempt. Drivingthrough the line with supreme power and ease, Tendulkar raced to 14including three boundaries.Having played solidly for 10 runs, Paranjpe found himself at the wrongend of an LBW appeal. Struck just outside the off stump, Paranjpelooked at the umpire in disbelief as the dreaded finger sent thesouthpaw on his way.School mate and long time friend Vinod Kambli joined Tendulkar out inthe middle and the two took the attack to Venkatpathy Raju. Smashinghim back over his head with regularity, the pair toyed with thebowling and dictated the field placement. Raju’s fifth over costHyderabad 15 runs. Medium pacer Vanka Pratap peppered Kambli withshort pitched stuff and was viciously pulled away to the mid wicketboundary on each occasion.The Mumbai hundred came up just before lunch. After the run feast inthe semifinal against Tamil Nadu, this was a rather sedate start.When Tendulkar slashed hard at an off spinner from Raju and was caughtbehind, the match seemed to lose all its fizz. The crowd quieteneddown, the pace of the game slowed down and that was that.Kambli assumed the mantle of senior batsman. The usually stylish AmolMuzumdar came down the wicket prematurely and was beaten in the air byRaju. He chipped the ball straight to Satwalkar at cover and it wasall upto Kambli and the Mumbai tail.Paras Mhambrey who has done a fair bit with the bat in this seasonalone kept Kambli good company. He played with a straight bat and waspredominantly defensive in his approach. At tea Mumbai were 238/5.Kambli, 83 at the interval, got to his hundred, a well deserved onegiven the circumstances. “I think it was a mature knock” he told thepress at the end of the day. An emotional Kambli was also quick to add”I looked up to the sky because I knew my mother would be watchingme. In the last match I could not make a hundred and wasdisappointed. This century I would like to dedicate to the memory ofmy mother.”The day ended with quasi all rounders Ajit Agarkar (14) and Mhambrey(38) at the crease. At this stage the match could go either way.

Somerset stun KentSomerset slammed 295-7, the highest score in the National League this summerto date, at Maidstone as they took out their frustration on Kent for having pulled away from defeat after following in the corresponding championship match which ended yesterday. Their win by 54 runs took them to six points behind Division One leaders Worcestershire.

Marcus Trescothick, who must in line for an England place sooner rather thanlater and was let off early in his innings, led the assault with 71 runs from 50 deliveries (11 four and one six): his first-wicket partnership with Jamie Cox (51) brought 114 runs in 16 overs, but Kent launched a spirited reply only to lose two wickets in the same over.Kent’s young bowlers suffered a pasting before spinner Min Patel put a breakon the scoring with two wickets. With Keith Parsons (49 n.o.) and Ian Blackweel (30) going strong Somerset seemed likely at one stage to score many more.The home county started badly with the early loss of openers David Fulton andRahul Dravid. Experienced Mark Ealham and Alan Wells (59) weathered the storm and began to make headway taking the score to 148-4 when the latter was out. Captain Matthew Fleming and Matthew Walker seized the initiative to such extent that Kent had the advantage according to the Ducksorth-Lewis as a persistent drizzle started to fall.Both were out in the same over to Blackwell (3-30) however leaving suchcalculations academic. Trescothick took 3-45 in an encouraging performance with both bat and ball.

Bengal and Assam carried their battle in the Ranji Trophy East Zoneleague match played at the North-East Frontier Railway Stadium,Guwahati, on Tuesday. Rohan Gavaskar stole the show with a brilliantcentury as Bengal were bowled out for 383 in 151.2 overs after tea onthe third day.Gavaskar hit nine boundaries in his innings of 114 that lasted212 balls. Rohan was at the crease for eight minutes short of sixhours. His was a well disciplined innings. Rohan and Srikant Kalyaniadded 169 runs for the sixth wicket in 53.1 overs, which wasinstrumental in helping Bengal gain a first innings lead of 92.Kalyani made a patient 75 that included nine boundaries. India discardSaba Karim again came good with the bat scoring 44. Rohan had put 69in 27 overs with Karim before he was dismissed by Sunil Subramaniam.The left arm spinner who had started his career with Tamil Nadu provedto be the nemesis of the Bengal tail as he returned to the pavilionwith the figures of 23.2-1-59-5.Assam saw through the difficult 11 overs bowled at them by Bengalbowlers to finish at 22 without losing any wickets.