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No play was possible in the fourth T20I between India and South Africa because of poor visibility in foggy Lucknow. Leading the series 2-1, India are now assured of taking their unbeaten streak in T20I series to 15. The decider of the series is scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on Friday.While the AQI in Lucknow hovered around the early-to-mid 400s, which is hazardous, the concern for the umpires remained visibility. During their inspections, one of the umpires would go to a square boundary to see if he could spot the white ball held up by the side of the pitch. Six inspections took place before play was finally called off at 9.26pm.Cricket in north Indian winters has long been a contentious issue, and not just for visibility. The BCCI had scheduled a Test for South Africa in Delhi before better sense prevailed and Delhi was given a Test before Diwali, which is when the air quality in north India starts to fall to poor and dangerous levels.South Africa’s tour comes to an end on Friday in Ahmedabad. In what has been a hugely successful tour, they blanked India 2-0 in the Tests and forced a decider in the ODI series, which India won 2-1. India have registered two comprehensive wins in what remains their strongest format to go 2-1 up in the T20Is, but they didn’t get a chance to seal the series before the finale because of the bad light in Lucknow.Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the last match for personal reasons, was with the team in Lucknow, which should be a boost for India ahead of the last match, which will be played in Bumrah’s hometown.

Steve Harmison, the England fast bowler, has struck back at Geoff Boycott after the former opening batsman had launched a scathing attack at him in a column for .Boycott had virtually written off Harmison after his poor display in the first Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, urging the selectors not to give him a central contract. “Since the Ashes series of 2005 he has been poor, indifferent to bad. He’s not got enough wickets and been given so many chances,” Boycott wrote in his column. “There comes a point when the public and selectors get fed up and disillusioned with a guy not delivering. That time has come. If he gets a central contract this summer over some of the new kids, or any sort of central contract, then a lot of us will be screaming: favouritism and a total waste of money. England should forget him.”Harmison’s reply was equally cutting. In his column for , Harmison wrote: “No one can dispute the man could bat but over the years he has developed an equally well deserved reputation as someone who thrives on kicking a man when he is down … Enough is enough. His remarks about me this week have gone beyond what is acceptable and it is time someone stood up to him and told him so.”People who only have a passing interest in the game hear the famous Geoff Boycott Yorkshire accent and may think it gives some status to his opinions. But inside the dressing room he has no status, he is just an accent, some sort of caricature of a professional Yorkshireman.”Harmison went on to add that a couple of batsmen currently in the England team didn’t have a high opinion of Boycott either. “Their shared experience was that when things weren’t going well for them all they heard from Boycott was him nailing them in the newspapers or on radio or TV, then, if they made a century or played well, he would come up to them full of compliments and try to ingratiate himself with them. I’m not the only England player who has been forced to take it in the neck from Boycott and I won’t be the last.”Harmison also took a dig at Boycott for his comments on Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait’s decision to take a break from the game due to exhaustion. Boycott had said Tait’s decision had “lacked character”.”I wonder what Australia’s Shaun Tait thought recently, when, after announcing he was taking an indefinite break from the game due to physical and emotional exhaustion, Boycott reacted by claiming he should have shown more desire to work through his problems,” Harmison wrote. “You get the feeling that Boycott is an insecure man who needs to be heard.”As a parting shot, Harmison had this to say to Boycott: “You say that if England give me another central contract come October that would be waste of money. To me, you are a waste of space.”

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Liam Davis outshone his more-fancied top-order colleagues with a century in his second match but Doug Bollinger’s five wickets helped New South Wales fight back late on the first day in Sydney. Davis, a late addition to the side, posted 116 and at the close Western Australia had 6 for 312, with Marcus North unbeaten on 13 and Aaron Heal (2) falling on the final delivery.The Warriors were well on top at 2 for 278 when a late rally from Bollinger with the new ball changed the situation significantly. Bollinger collected three wickets in five overs, the first of which was Davis lbw, ending a five-hour innings that would never have happened but for Shaun Marsh’s late withdrawal with a hamstring injury.Bollinger then grabbed a return catch to send back Adam Voges, who had made 84 and combined with Davis in a 153-run stand, and added Luke Pomersbach (10) to his collection. His 5 for 69 catapulted him to the top of this season’s Pura Cup wicket tally and he now has 39 at 14.35 from only six matches.But not even Bollinger could stop Davis, 23, from registering his maiden first-class century, which came up with a six over square leg off the medium-pacer Greg Mail. He opened with Australia’s latest Test recruit, Chris Rogers, whose return to state duties ended when was caught behind off Bollinger for 16.Another former Test opener, Justin Langer, then joined Davis and the pair added 94 for the second wicket. Langer (54) was Bollinger’s second victim but Davis kept the runs coming and ensured that even allowing for Bollinger’s heroics, the Warriors would have a healthy total to defend.

With one day of the league matches left, we finally know the teams that will be relegated: Bengal, for the first time since the introduction of the relegation system, and Himachal Pradesh, who were promoted last year.Delhi, Saurashtra and Uttar Pradesh seem likely to join Baroda in the semi-finals, though things may yet turn out otherwise. Saurashtra have frustrated Mumbai long enough to almost ensure the one point they need to make it to the semi-finals. Delhi are 95 short of an outright win, which will take them clear of Mumbai who can at best draw against Saurashtra. UP need eight Hyderabad wickets on the final day to end as Group B leaders. If they can get only three points from the match, they will be tied with Andhra at 17 points, but with a better quotient.
ScorecardDelhi shot out Tamil Nadu for 174 to lay the foundation of what should be an easy win to seal a semi-final place and possibly also take them to the top of Group A. Chetanya Nanda took his third five-wicket haul to hasten the end for Tamil Nadu after Pradeep Sangwan and Rajat Bhatia had removed the openers. It was a quick half-century from No. 8 R Ramkumar that took Tamil Nadu beyond 100 as Ramkumar and H Gopinath, from 61 for 6, added 82 for the seventh wicket.Delhi were 10 for 0 at stumps, chasing 105.
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Mohammad Kaif’s unbeaten century and three other half-centuries helped Uttar Pradesh set Hyderabad an improbable target and UP took two wickets before stumps, leaving Hyderabad needing another 383 on the final day. UP started the day at 28 for 0 and the opening stand between the Srivastavas – Tanmay and Rohit Prakash – continued for another 72 runs. After both of them got out for half-centuries, Kaif and Ravikant Shukla took over, scoring at a strike-rate of over 60 to enable UP declare 16 overs before stumps. This was Kaif’s second century of the season, making him UP’s leading run-getter so far.When Hyderabad came out to bat, Praveen Kumar struck in the third over with Abhinav Kumar’s wicket and in the last over Praveen Gupta accounted for Anoop Pai.
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With their fourth loss in six matches which yielded only eight points, Bengal have been relegated to the Plate League for the 2008-09 season. Andhra’s P Vijay Kumar and Y Gnaneshwara Rao took five wickets each to ensure a sixth successive batting failure for Bengal. Chasing 214 for a win that would have given them some chance of avoiding relegation, Bengal were shot out for 112, captain Laxmi Shukla being the top scorer with 39. Manoj Tiwary was the only other batsman to reach double figures; he scored 35.Resuming the day at 147 for 6, with a lead of 170, Andhra added 43 more, thanks to MSK Prasad who scored 54. Ranadeb Bose finished with 7 for 74.
ScorecardRajasthan turned the tables on Himachal Pradesh as they bowled them out for 122 in the second innings, knocked off the 185-run target easily, and won the relegation face-off even after having conceded a 62-run first-innings lead. Sumit Mathur was the chief destructor for Rajasthan as he took 7 for 49 to wreck the Himachal innings after they were 56 for 0 at one stage. With a healthy opening stand, and a first-innings lead already in the bag, Himachal looked on their way to avoid relegation, but they lost seven wickets for 31 runs to be reduced to 87 for 7 in a characteristic collapse. The last three wickets showed some resistance, but could take them to 122 only.Rajasthan then batted with intent, and riding on Vineet Saxena’s unbeaten century and Rajesh Bishnoi’s unbeaten 63, they chased the target down in 41.5 overs.Maharashtra 276 and 18 for 3 (Vinay Kumar 3-3) need another 251 runs to avoid an innings defeat against Karnataka 545 for 9 dec Chipli 135*, Goud 122)
Scorecard After Bharat Chipli and Yere Goud piled the runs on for Karnataka, R Vinay Kumar struck with a hat-trick to set up a depressing end to the season for Maharashtra after they led the Group A halfway into the Ranji Trophy. At the end of the third day, Maharashtra required 251 runs to make Karnataka bat again, with seven wickets in hand.Vinay Kumar’s hat-trick was the fourth in the last three rounds of Ranji Trophy and second against Maharashtra after Delhi medium-pacer Parvinder Awana had demolished Maharashtra with one in the fifth round.Earlier Chipli and Goud feasted on an inexperienced attack to score centuries and take the lead to 269 before they declared with seven overs to go in the day. Goud scored 122, while Chipli stayed unbeaten on 135. Thilak Naidu chipped in with a a half-century.
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A solid batting display by Amol Muzumdar and Ajinkya Rahane might not be enough to take them to the semi-finals as Mumbai ended the day 297 behind Saurashtra’s 484, with eight wickets in hand. Even if they manage to take a first-innings lead, they will have to hope Delhi don’t beat Tamil Nadu outright, which seems highly likely.To begin the day, Mumbai were frustrated by Shitanshu Kotak furthermore, as they took 11.2 overs to take the last Saurashtra wicket, No. 11 Sandip Maniar who partnered Kotak for 73 mintues out of his 796-minute stay at the wicket.Ajinkya Rahane and Amol Muzumdar scored unbeaten eighties, but with a run-rate of 2.46 per over to score 187 for 2 they were always operating against the clock.
ScorecardBaroda took the last seven Orissa wickets for 81 runs, but could not prevent them from taking a first-innings lead. Three points from this game would have ensure Baroda the top position in Group B. In the second innings, Baroda had scored 120 for 3 by stumps, sending the game down the draw path unless there is a dramatic collapse on the final day.Rajesh Pawar took five of the Orissa wickets to fall today to finish his 10th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Western Australia 7 for 362 (Rogers 166, Marsh 53) v Victoria
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Chris Rogers dominated Victoria on a warm opening day in Perth as the visitors’ decision to bowl first at the WACA backfired. The Bushrangers wanted early wickets in their push for an outright win to move away from New South Wales, who they will meet in the final, but Rogers punished them with 166 and the Warriors posted a commanding 7 for 362.Allan Wise captured the early wicket of Justin Langer for 14, but the pitch did not offer the bowlers much assistance and Rogers combined with Shaun Marsh in a partnership of 146 that set up the innings. Marsh edged behind to Shane Harwood for 53 before Rogers reached his 24th first-class century on the way to his highest score of the season.Bryce McGain, who is being mentioned as a national spin candidate after Brad Hogg’s retirement, struggled in his first six-over spell, which went for 28, but he returned to remove Rogers, who struck a full-toss to Cameron White at midwicket. Rogers’ heavy scoring included 26 fours and one six and he managed to operate at a strike-rate of 75.11 from his 221 balls.McGain struck again when, four balls after Andrew McDonald had Marcus North lbw for 42, he confused Luke Pomersbach (13) with a short ball and trapped him in front. He picked up 2 for 60 from 15 overs and out-bowled White, who went for 29 from four.Harwood’s second wicket came with his first delivery with the second new ball when Luke Ronchi drove to Brad Hodge at gully and the Warriors had lost 4 for 37. Adam Voges (27 not out) was out-scored by the bowler Steve Magoffin, who picked up 30 before slipping four overs before stumps.

Sridharan Sharath, the former Tamil Nadu batsman, is all set to come out of retirement and represent Assam in the coming Ranji season. He expects to be named the captain of the side. He had retired at the end of the last season after having represented Tamil Nadu for 15 years.Sharath, along with two other Tamil Nadu players – former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh and Somasetty Suresh – and Karnataka left-arm spinner Anand Katti, will join the Assam trials, set to get underway at the NF Railway Stadium tomorrow.Speaking to Cricinfo, Sharath confirmed the move. The Assam team is likely to be announced in two days’ time. “I am likely to captain the team this season,” Sharath said. “There was a vacancy open with regular captain J Arunkumar playing for Goa this season.”While moving to Assam may not be a big surprise, what with player transfers becoming common in domestic circles these days, his coming out of retirement that lasted only a few months is. His retirement was accompanied by a sense of disappointment, after being overlooked for countless Board President’s XI teams and A sides in over a decade. What made him change his mind now? And what made him choose to play in the Plate League?Sharath is excited at the opportunity to represent and help a weak side like Assam. Their coach, Sanat Kumar, for the last three years, has been keen to have him on board. “Over the last three-four years the coach has been inviting me,” Sharath said. “Around April this year, after my retirement, I gave it a serious thought. I spoke to a few guys and made my decision within months.”More significantly, Assam losing players to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) made the decision easier. “We’ve had teams like Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad losing several players to the ICL and Assam too has suffered.If a team like Tamil Nadu loses six-seven players, they can always rebound fast. But it’s not the case with Assam, which has only a few prominent players and loses them due to different reasons. Now is when youngsters badly need senior players by their side. Financially also it would be good for me if I kept playing domestic cricket.”The role he plays with Assam will be different from what he did with Tamil Nadu. “I see myself as a player-cum-coach, and that concept seems to have caught on across the world. I have coaching experience in Chennai and in fact, I have plans of taking it up full time after I finally quit the game.”Sharath hopes other veterans would follow his lead. “Senior players should consider giving something back to the game. Players like Yere Goud, Amol Muzumdar and Pankaj Dharmani will have a tremendous impact on them.”Coming back to cricket after over eight months of a lay-off will be a big test of his fitness, especially when he is a week shy of his 35th birthday. “I haven’t been doing any hard training over the last few months. Of course, one cannot expect me to run around the field like a 25-year old. My aim is to ensure I contribute usefully, both as a player and a coach, and I hope to derive as much motivation from them [youngsters] as they can from me.”The new role of mentoring a team through tough times sits well with Sharath. He spoke of the number of times he had to rescue his side from crisis situations, staging middle-order recoveries, giving credence to his reputation of a stalwart. In less than a year since his retirement, he takes on another crisis – of a different magnitude, in a different role, miles away from home.

Ricky Ponting will not play in Tasmania’s Pura Cup match against Western Australia starting in Hobart on Monday. Ponting has been withdrawn from the Tigers line-up at the request of Cricket Australia.Many of Australia’s front-line players have niggling injuries or are resting during the rare lull between the Sri Lanka Test series and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy games. Ponting played in Tasmania’s one-day match against the Warriors on Saturday but Cricket Australia’s “no-risk” strategy has meant he will not take part in the four-day contest.”The call’s been made by the Australian team physio and chairman of selectors,” Tony Harrison, the Tasmanian Cricket Association deputy chairman and a Cricket Australia director, told . “We’ve been aware he’s been carrying a couple of niggles this season and he’s got a busy six months coming up, so it’s just part of player management.”Tasmania squad Michael Dighton, Michael Di Venuto, George Bailey, Travis Birt, Daniel Marsh (capt), Luke Butterworth, Sean Clingeleffer (wk), Jason Krejza, Brendan Drew, Brett Geeves, Ben Hilfenhaus.Western Australia squad Chris Rogers, Justin Langer, Adam Voges (capt), Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Brad Hogg, Sean Ervine, Mathew Inness, Steve Magoffin, Darren Wates, Ben Edmondson.

Matara Sports Club defeated Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club a by 12 runs in their Premier Limited Overs match which was held at NCC Grounds today. In a tense, low scoring affair Matara scored just 140 but then bundled out Kurunegala for just 128.Kurunegala had won the toss and elected to field first. The decision looked to have been justified as the opening bowlers exploited the moisture that remained in the wicket after heavy rains during the previous night.Kumara, the opening bowler, proved to be a real handful. He struck two early blows by dismissing Lokuge and Ravin to leave Matara 30 for 2. The batting side slipped to 109 for 7 before being rescued by Ramzan, who top scored with 40 runs. He added a valuable 30 runs with Buddika (30). When the pair were separated, Matara lost their remaining wickets for just 1 run.Kurunegala started the run chase in positive fashion. The openers, Kariyawasam (11) and Rajapaksa (22) added 29 runs for the first wicket. Jayawardana (11) took the score to 49 before he was stumped. The Kurunegalan innings then went into freefall as three wickets fell for just 9 runs.When 24 runs were added for the fifth wicket and 28 for the 6th the batting looked to have recovered sufficiently. However they lost 5 wickets for just 18 runs to give Matara a dramatic victory in the 48th over of the match.

Adam Gilchrist’s retirement from international cricket will be short-lived after he confirmed he would appear in the Indian Premier League in India during April. Gilchrist will step down from Australian duties in March, but will be back in action for the lucrative Twenty20 series.”I’m signed up like most of our players have,” he said. “I see that as an amazing entertainment package.”Eleven players contracted to Cricket Australia have IPL deals, but the Test team is due to be in Pakistan when the tournament begins. The crowded schedule no longer bothers Gilchrist and he will be free to take part alongside Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, his fellow retirees.The new format has grown on Gilchrist, who was a reluctant Twenty20 participant when it was first played internationally four years ago. “I was a bit of a traditionalist,” he said, “and wasn’t so sure about this short version of the game.”But over time, and having played more of it and seen the way it works, I’ve realised it’s an important part of the cricket structure now. It is entertainment and I feel like I’ve tried to be entertaining all through my career, but I’ve done the real serious hard yards and enjoyed that and loved all the sweat and the tears and the laughter.”While the huge sums of money being reported will add to Gilchrist’s retirement package, he is also excited to be involved in the innovative concept. “I hear guys talk about World Series Cricket and how exciting it was to be a part of that,” he said. “I see this IPL situation being very similar to that. Who knows where it could grow to? To be part of that founding group would be a huge thrill.”

Craig Kieswetter, Somerset’s wicketkeeper-bataman has pledged his future to England despite appearing for his native South Africa Under-19 at the World Cup last year. Kieswetter, whose mother is Scottish, holds a British passport and will qualify for England through living there for four years.The talented player, who made his senior debut this summer, is on part of the National Academy skills set, which he will attend this winter.Kieswetter started the 2007 season playing for Somerset 2nd XI, but after some impressive early form, soon forced his way into the senior side and helped them to promotion to the Championship top flight.”I want to make it in first class cricket and eventually go on and play for England,” he told the . “I have to say that I was a bit surprised to get invited [to the Academy] after just one season in the game over here.”I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and thrilled to think I have been noticed.”