A minor fire broke out in the Sector 16 Stadium where India will take on Australia in the fourth one-dayer of the seven-match series on Monday.The Chandigarh Fire Department sources said that the fire, which broke out in the newly-constructed media centre, had been brought under control. No one was injured in the incident, sources said, adding that the fire was due to a short circuit.International cricket returns to this venue after 14 years. The last match played in this stadium was in January 1993, when India took on England in a one-dayer. The stadium has staged four ODIs and one Test in 1990 between India and Sri Lanka.The construction of the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, in 1993-94, forced the Sector 16 stadium to take a back seat. The stadium has been renovated in the last few months to include a new media centre, upgraded dressing rooms and pavilion enclosure, an electronic scoreboard, and better seating arrangements.

Guernsey and Jersey are the two new additions to the European Under-15 and Under-17 Division One Championships for 2008. It is the first time more than four teams have battled for the title since the tournament began in 1999.In 2007 Jersey won the Under-19 and Under-23 Division 2 Championships and were runner-up to Guernsey in the Under-15 Division 2 Championship. Both sides did not lose a single match, other than to one another, in any of the competitions.The two championships will be the first real test of Guernsey and Jersey since their elevation to ICC Associate status.”It is a fantastic opportunity for Guernsey’s young cricketers to test themselves against the strongest nations in Europe at their own age group,” David Piesing, chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board said. “Young players can only benefit from playing against strong opposition and in the past couple of years these youngsters have acquitted themselves well in friendlies against Scotland and Holland so they will be keen to renew those acquaintances.”Our Under-15s showed this year that they were a very strong side by winning the Division 2 tournament in La Manga. Five or six of those same players are still in the Under-15s in 2008 while the remainder of that squad will now move to the Under-17s age group.”We are delighted that ICC Europe has recognised the playing strength of our youth sides in this way and we eagerly look forward to the challenges ahead. It will provide an additional impetus for our youngsters as they enter this winter’s coaching programme.”The Under-17 Division One tournament will be held in Belfast over four days in July 2008. Six teams will form two groups of three, with each team playing two 50-over matches over the first three days. Following a coaching day, each team will play-off against its counterpart from the other group to determine the final championship standings.The Under-15 Division two championship will take place in Jersey, also in July, and will be played to 45-over playing conditions.Scotland host the Under19- Division One championship in August, with the same playing conditions as the Under-19 World Cup, whilst remaining a four-team competition. And Germany will host the Under-17 Division Two championship in the Northern Rhine region surrounding Düsseldorf.Dates and precise venues of all events have yet to be finalised.

Former Zimbabwe cricket stakeholders have broken their recent silence by urging the ICC to take decisive measures if auditors find the current Zimbabwe Cricket administration responsible for the misappropriation of funds.In June the ICC appointed a top South African audit company, KPMG, to look into Zimbabwe Cricket’s accounts after Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive, said in a leaked document that he believed board funds had been squandered.The auditor’s findings were expected to be presented to the ICC’s board meeting in Dubai this week, but that was postponed and the ICC accepted an undertaking that the exercise will now be finalised “as soon as possible.”A former influential board member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said if the audit named culprits then they must be booted out of sports administration for good. “Once the audit results are known, [if anyone is named they] must never be allowed to administer cricket and sports again, they must be must be brought to book because they have enriched themselves while the game suffers.”Cricinfo sources have also said an audit arm of the Sports and Recreation Commission, led by experienced Zimbabwean sports administrator, Mark Manolios, was also doing its own investigations into ZC’s financial handlings in order to lead by example as the country’s supreme sports regulatory body.Another former Zimbabwe provincial administrator, who spoke to Cricinfo from South Africa, urged the ICC to use the audit results to take a firmer stand on the Zimbabwe issue. “This is a brilliant opportunity for the ICC to redeem itself on Zimbabwe,” he said. “Us, as the legitimate stakeholders of Zimbabwe cricket, feel the ICC has neglected our cricket in Zimbabwe and let it die. We await too see what sort of action they will take this time. It’s not late for them to save the situation.”

Kent have reappointed their England batsman Rob Key as captain for next season.Key, who took over the captaincy from David Fulton in 2006, led his county to Twenty20 Trophy glory last summer – and is predicting imminent new signings in pursuit of further success in 2008.”I am delighted to be given the chance to captain the club again in 2008,” he said. “We made good progress in 2007, and I believe we have the players to do even better next season.”We will be announcing exciting new additions to the squad shortly with a view to building further on the success achieved last year.”

Group A

Sohail Khan, the tournament’s highest wicket-taker so far, threatened to run through the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) batting line-up for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), but Hasan Raza came to his team’s rescue with an unbeaten 158 as HBL totalled 334 for 8 at close at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex. Put into bat, HBL lost opener Rafatullah Mohmand for a duck to Sohail, and the bowler grabbed two more wickets to have HBL reeling at 23 for 3. Raza, joined by Shahid Afridi, who took over the captaincy in his first domestic match of the season, put on 64 runs for the fourth wicket, with Afridi’s 33 coming off 27 balls. Hasan, during the course of his 32nd first-class century, faced 212 balls and hit 13 fours and a six. His unbeaten 158 helped the lower order batsmen take Habib Bank to a respectable position by the day’s end. Sohail finished the day with four wickets for 80 runs to take his tally for the season to 47 wickets in only eight matches.Opting to bat first, Karachi Whites did well to reach 279 for 7 against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the National Stadium after losing the first six wickets for only 177 runs. Wajihuddin (73) shared a 51-run second-wicket partnership with opener Asad Shafiq (22), and a 55-run stand with Asim Kamal whose poor form with the bat continued as he was dismissed for 22. However, Afsar Nawaz continued his good run with an unbeaten 85 and shared an 87-run seventh-wicket partnership with Tanvir Ahmed (38) to take Karachi past the 200-mark.Fawad Alam returned to his century-making ways as he hit an unbeaten 104 and helped National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) compile 328 for 5 against Hyderabad at Niaz Stadium. In a state of bother at 66 for 3, NBP were rescued by Alam who joined the tournament’s top-scorer Naumanullah – who had 772 runs prior to this match – and posted 100 runs for the fourth wicket before Naumanullah was dismissed for 89. Alam then joined hands with Qaiser Abbas, who contributed 70 in a fifth-wicket partnership of 126 runs as NBP look for another huge first-innings total.At the Gaddafi Stadium, centuries by Ali Haider and Ashraf Ali enabled Lahore Ravi to score 295 for 4 against Multan. Lahore collapsed to 60 for 4, before Haider rescued them with his maiden first-class hundred. He faced 196 balls for his unbeaten 121 while Ashraf’s unbeaten 111 took 195 balls. The unbeaten 235-run partnership allowed Lahore to look for a big total on a batsmen-friendly pitch.Faisalabad were bowled out for a modest 193 by Sialkot after being put in to bat at the Sheikhupura Stadium. In reply, Sialkot lost three wickets before reaching 63. Faisalabad were undone by the pace of Mohammad Imran, who took 6 for 42 runs in under 15 overs. From 91 for 6 at one stage, Faisalabad managed to reach 193 thanks to a 99-run seventh-wicket partnership between Mohammad Salman (63) and Ahmed Hayat (38) before losing the last four wickets for only three runs. Asad Zarar picked up all three wickets in Sialkot’s innings but Faisalabad will have to bowl exceptionally well to avoid a first-innings deficit.

Group B

The Asghar Ali Shah Stadium witnessed a run-glut as Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) hammered 427 for 2 against Karachi Blues. Umar Akmal, younger brother of Pakistan wicket keeper Kamran Akmal, scored an unbeaten 215 off only 187 deliveries and shared a 311-run second-wicket partnership with Mohammad Hafeez (145) after SNGPL won he toss and decided to bat.Azhar Ali scored his fourth century of the season and Saeed Anwar his third as Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) put on 345 for 3 against Islamabad at the Diamond Cricket Club Ground. Azhar and Anwar put on 259 runs for the second wicket before Anwar was dismissed for 144, his 12th century, that came off 173 deliveries with 15 fours and two sixes. Azhar remained unbeaten on 123 as KRL recovered well after losing their captain Mohammad Wasim for only 17.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were given an opening stand of 109 against Abbottabad at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium through Agha Sabir (89) and captain Khurram Manzoor (52). Kamran Sajid contributed exactly 50 later to enable PIA to reach a healthy 223 for 4 at close on the opening day.Bottom-placed Quetta were bowled out for a poor 173 against Rawalpindi at the KRL Stadium. With half the side back in the pavillion for 55, it was left to a 57-run partnership between Shoaib Khan (60) and Jalat Khan (59*) to take Quetta past 100. Jalat then put on 61 with the last four batsmen to take his side to a respectable total. Rawalpindi’s openers knocked off 41 runs without being separated by close of play.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) lost only two wickets in the 59.4 overs possible at Arbab Niaz Stadium against Peshawar, scoring 205 for 2. Inam-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 87 while Adnan Raza retired hurt just before close for 51.

Scorecard
Gujarat, overnight on 140 for 2, doubled that total on the third day to take a first-innings lead of 20 against Railways in final of the Ranji Plate League at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. In reply, Railways were at 14 for 1, still trailing by six runs.Gujarat’s lead was due in large part to Nilesh Modi, who added 41 to his overnight 66. However, they were unable to build on that as their middle order – barring Hem Joshipura, who made 36 – failed to chip in with substantial scores.Niraj Patel and Modi added 45 for the fourth wicket after Mohnish Parmar fell early in the day. After Niraj fell, Modi went on score his seventh first-class hundred before he was snared by Harvinder Singh, the former India fast bowler. Modi’s 107 came off 317 deliveries, with 18 fours.Joshipura and Timil Patel combined to help Gujarat take the lead but Joshipura’s wicket, with the score on 255, triggered a collapse; Gujarat lost the last four wickets for 25 runs. Runs came at a trickle, with Gujarat’s run-rate 1.92 runs per over. Sanjay Bangar was the most impressive bowler, with 5 for 54 from his 42 overs in Gujarat’s innings, including 19 maidens.Railways then played out eight overs before close, losing Siddharth Joshi early to Ashraf Makda. Nightwatchman Murali Kartik and Bangar negotiated the remaining overs without further damage. Railways would be pleased with conceding a lead of 20, and a good batting display by them in the second innings could put pressure on Gujarat’s batsmen on the final day.

The Cobras registered an amazing come-from-behind victory over the Lions as the Potchefstroom pitch made a remarkable recovery from its ill-form on the first two days. JP Duminy, the left-hander who is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s brightest batting talents, converted his immense promise into tangible destruction as his century saw the Cobras chase down 355 to beat the Lions by five wickets.The Cobras’ second innings of 358 for 5, built on Duminy’s elegant 115 and 96 from Henry Davids (the competition’s leading run-scorer), was all the more impressive after were skittled for just 80 in their first innings.The Cobras won the toss and sent the Lions in to bat first on a saucy pitch, thanks to a cold front that had swathed neighbouring Gauteng in rain for three days. After an opening stand of fifty between Blake Snijman and Alviro Petersen, Monde Zondeki made excellent use of the conditions, swinging the ball wildly to take 5 for 55 – his fifth five-for of the tournament – and the Lions were bowled out for 181.The Cobras’ reply lasted a mere 22.5 overs though, with Friedel de Wet (3 for 23), Garnett Kruger (4 for 27) and Heinrich le Roux (3 for 7) sharing the wickets in a fine bowling display. Vernon Philander top-scored for the Cobras with 23 not out, but he was to play an even bigger role when he took the new ball for the Lions’ second innings. Swinging the ball beautifully, Philander took 7 for 64 as the Lions were bowled out for 253, setting the stage for Duminy’s majestic, match-winning century.Although the Cobras were celebrating their second successive win, the Eagles are still the undisputed kings of the competition, enjoying a 20-point lead over second-placed Dolphins. The Eagles had the better of their match against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth, which was ruined by the arrival of rain on the final day. The Warriors batted first and posted a fairly adequate 279, thanks to Zander de Bruyn’s 111 and Davey Jacobs’ 61. A hesitant batting display by the Eagles saw them slip to 245 all out, with Dean Elgar scoring 63 and Boeta Dippenaar and Ryan Bailey falling just short of half-centuries. Juan Theron, the fast bowler, was the most took 3 for 41.The Eagles then took control, however, when the Warriors slumped to 195 all out in their second innings. Johan Botha was the only top-order batsman to shine, scoring 51, a score which Mario Olivier matched in the tail. Olivier, of course, is the bowler who came to prominence by taking all 10 wickets in an innings against the Eagles in Bloemfontein at the start of last month. It left the Eagles with a target of 230 to win and a full day in which to get it, but they could only reach 42 without loss before rain washed out play.The Titans and the Dolphins were also forced into a draw as rain washed out the first two days of their match in Benoni and only 190.4 overs were possible overall.The Dolphins, sent in to bat, crashed to 45 for 6 but Daryn Smit, the wicketkeeper, and 17-year-old Khayelihle Zondo were not numbed by the crisis and added 64 as the Dolphins eventually reached 190.Smit tore into the Titans bowlers in his unbeaten 89, while Zondo’s debut was a big plus as he scored a gutsy 25 against the defending champions in two-and-a-half hours at the crease.The Titans enjoyed batting practice in their innings, but Farhaan Behardien and Albie Morkel answered the match’s dying request with some excitement, scoring fluent unbeaten half-centuries as they added 117 runs in 31 overs to take them to 299 for 6 at the close.The most important thing to come out of the match was that Morne Morkel, eyeing a return to international action after a stress fracture of the foot, was able to get through 16 overs, taking 2 for 48.Player of the week
JP Duminy has enjoyed the occasional insert into international action this summer, appearing in five one-day internationals, without doing anything wrong. But the 23-year-old has yet to have any chance in Tests as other batsmen like Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie have been ahead of him in the queue.But he ensured his name will still be on the national selectors’ lips with a match-winning century over the weekend for the Cobras. The selectors will be especially impressed because his 115 not out, a 265-minute innings of immense willpower and class, took the Cobras to a daunting victory target of 355 after they had been dismissed for just 80 in their first innings.The run-chase will be remembered for a long time by local supporters, but pundits have predicted that Duminy will enjoy a long and successful career in the international limelight. The left-hander has a classic technique with the touch of a surgeon. The cover drive is the stroke he plays most elegantly, but the short ball holds few terrors for him either.

The MCC announced in a press release on Tuesday morning that a further vote on allowing women to become members of the club will take place on September 28. It follows a defeated motion to enable women to join in February; although more than 50% were in favour, it was not a sufficient number to achieve the two-thirds majority required.Speaking on BBC Radio, former England captain Rachael Heyhoe-Flint said she felt the current situation was discriminatory against “women who are genuinely interested in cricket and want to become members of, allegedly, the greatest club in the world”.Even though there have been many controversial changes in cricket, including the introduction of coloured clothing and third umpires, the MCC has remained a male dominated organisation and because of this it is reputed by some as being ‘out of touch’. In June the MCC Committee commissioned a MORI questionnaire amongst the membership to try and gauge opinion.In addition, the lack of female members was one of five major reasonsthe MCC was recently denied a lottery grant to assist in theconstruction of new buildings at Lord’s. The proposals which are nowbeing distributed to members suggest that up to 70 women should beallowed to become playing members of the club within the next twoyears, with the waiting list unaffected. It is also proposed toreserve one of the bars in the pavillion for men only.Sarah Potter, a UK newspaper reporter and former England player,defended the proposals saying “Lord’s has a responsibility torepresent the sport.”Currently there are nearly 18,000 members and a waiting list tojoin the club of around 18 years. However the Committee has the rightto appoint honourary and honourary life members. Those who play 10games of cricket for MCC then the waiting time is reduced to two years.

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

Mornè Morkel, with a five-for in his second Test, and Dale Steyn were thedestroyers as Bangladesh were knocked over for 192 soon after tea on theopening day, but a stirring fightback inspired by Shahadat Hossain andMohammad Rafique left the match intriguing poised when play was called offwith eight overs still to be bowled. By then, South Africa had stumbled to76 for 4, with Ashwell Prince and Johan Botha holding fort on a pitch thatwas already showing signs of misbehaving.The key wicket, as is so often the case when South Africa play, was thatof Jacques Kallis. Having repeatedly exposed his stumps to the probing left-armspin of Rafique, he had no answer when one turned and kept appallinglylow. At one stage, with Hashim Amla and Kallis adding 35, it looked asthough South Africa had overcome the early Shahadat-induced wobble, butRafique accounted for Amla as well, trapping him plumb in front with onethat came in with the arm.Graeme Smith had inside-edged one on to his leg stump and Neil McKenzie, openingin place of the dropped Herschelle Gibbs, was rapped in front by one thatangled back in. Shahadat bowled an inspired spell, and could have hadKallis as well, but a muted appeal when the ball struck pad before batdidn’t quite convince the umpire.The batting debacle took the sheen off a superb bowling display from SouthAfrica’s callow pace bowlers. Steyn, so devastating during the homeseason, dealt the first blows. Spot on with his first ball of the match,the second looped back to his left after Tamim Iqbal had inside edged onto his pad. Steyn reacted smartly on his follow through to hold on.In his next over, more success, as Junaid Siddique hung his bat out at onethat slanted across him, and Mark Boucher dived across Smith at first slip tohold on to the catch. More uncomfortable moments followed, with Makhaya Ntini andSteyn testing the batsmen with short deliveries, but Shahriar Nafees gavethe crowd some solace with a crisp pull and square-drive off Steyn.Habibul Bashar pulled Ntini for a boundary, but looked out of sortsotherwise, and the introduction of Morkel sent him speedily in thedirection of the pavilion. Considering that he’s a former captain and themost senior batsman in the side, it was a wretched shot, a nothing waftoutside off stump, and McKenzie held a low chance in front of him at awide third slip.Stodgy defiance hasn’t been a characteristic of Bangladeshi batting inrecent times, and Mohammad Ashraful’s approach when he arrived at thecrease was indicative of a cavalier mindset. An edge for four got himgoing, and when Morkel then pitched too full, he clipped one effortlesslythrough midwicket for four.Ntini has seldom been a factor on subcontinent pitches, and Ashrafulcapitalised on his more predictable offerings with a superb square-driveand a meaty pull. At the other end, Nafees was alternately watchful andattacking before Morkel turned out to be too good for him.A full delivery was driven superbly through the covers, but the next ballangled across and deviated away. The hesitant push flew to Smith, andSouth Africa had four wickets for just 60. Ashraful continued undaunted,lacing a couple of lovely drives, but Botha’s introduction on the strokeof lunch proved a masterstroke.

Ashraful drove and cut for fours before impetuously whacking a lofteddelivery straight back to the bowler. That left Bangladesh in disarray at82 for 5, with Aftab Ahmad and Shakib Al Hasan having to shoulder thepost-lunch burden.They did so for well over an hour, with a combination of pluck and luck.Shakib started with a gorgeous straight drive off Ntini, and followed upwith two more crisp strokes through the off side. There were hints ofinexperience too, though, with an ill-judged paddle sweep off Botha barelymissing the stumps off the inside edge.Aftab had eschewed his normal flamboyance to knuckle down, but as thesession wore on, the frustration became palpable. Something had to give,and it did with Aftab playing an appalling shot to Botha after having gotto 44. Ntini took the catch at mid-off, and South Africa soon had muchmore to celebrate.His departure appeared to upset Shakib’s composure too, and when Morkelangled one across, he edged to a wide second slip where AB de Villiersheld on to a sharp chance. Rafique lasted just one ball, with SteveBucknor taking an age to raise the finger after a thick inside edge on tothe pad. Crucially though, Mashrafe Mortaza, with a breezy 29, andMushfiqur Rahim added 40 for the ninth wicket before Morkel and Steynreturned to scatter stumps.At that stage, it was very much South Africa’s day, but the 24 oversbefore stumps suggested that repeating their success in Pakistan lastOctober may not be so straightforward after all.

Guyana Cricket Board has made assurances that the pitch at the Providence Stadium will be ready for the first Test against Sri Lanka despite the warm-up match between the Sri Lankans and a Guyana President’s Select XI to be played at the same venue.The tour game, scheduled between March 17 and 19, was to be played at Bourda but heavy rain left the ground waterlogged and the board was forced to shift it to the Providence Stadium, which will host its first-ever Test on March 22.”After Bourda was under water for several days we consulted the West Indies Cricket Board about using the National Stadium [ Providence Stadium] for the warm-up match and we were told once we do not use the same pitch it would be fine and the pitch we are using [for the warm-up game] is two pitches away from the one we will be using for the Test match,” said Chetram Singh, the Guyana board president.Singh said groundsmen will work overtime to get the Test pitch ready in time. “We started the preparations for the Test match earlier than usual so we will ensure that the three day match will not disturb the Test pitch to a level of Test match readiness.”Ticket sales picked up on Friday after two days of little rain and much sunshine, according to Singh. “We’re hoping from Monday that the sales will pick up further with additional publicity and the cricket fever kicking in with the public knowing that the Sri Lankans are here.”The confusion we usually have at Bourda at the gates and so on, we don’t see that confusion at the [Providence] stadium. Parking facilities will be much better at the stadium because there is a huge parking space in front the stadium and because the stadium was constructed to specific ICC regulations the entire running of cricket at the stadium is going to be much easier.”