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ScorecardCentral Districts qualified to host the final of the State shield after beating Wellington by 72 runs at the Basin Reserve.However, CD had a mixed day. They were all out for 244 after reaching 228 for 3. Seven wickets fell for 16 and seven balls still remained when the innings came to a close. The collapse undid the good work of Craig Spearman, who hit 63 off 82, Jarrod Englefield (54 off 70) and Mathew Sinclair, who set the field ablaze with 78 in 59 balls. But, in only his sixth match, Iain O’Brien grabbed 5 for 35 to start the demolition.Wellington started poorly, teetering at 46 for 4 before a stand worth 95 between James Franklin and Michael Parlene kept them in the running. Franklin scored 63, while Parlene had 31. However, with Andrew Schwass prising out 4 for 27, Wellington could manage only 172 and slipped to defeat by 72 runs.
ScorecardNorthern Districts continued Auckland’s one-day humiliation by scoring a crushing 112-run victory at Eden Park’s Outer Oval today. The win ensured that ND would play Canterbury in Wednesday’s semi-final.Daniel Vettori opened the batting for ND after a period off with injury and celebrated his return with a fine century – his first. He scored his hundred off 119 balls, with nine boundaries. Eventually dismissed for 109 off 124 balls, he added 106 for the third wicket with Hamish Marshall, who scored 69. The momentum was maintained through the innings and ND reached one of the biggest scores of the summer with their 290 for 6.Auckland were not helped by the loss of Kyle Mills, suffering an Achilles injury. He bowled only five overs, and at a cost of 35 runs. Paul Hitchcock took three wickets, but gave away 67. The batsmen were just as unspectacular. Only Aaron Barnes with 48 was able to break the bowling deadlock. The side managed to reach 178. The bowling effort was led by Graeme Aldridge, easily the most dominant bowler in the competition, who took 4 for 34.

Murray Goodwin and Mike Hussey made a challenging run-chase seem easy as they guided Western Australia to a three-wicket ING Cup cricket victory over SA at Adelaide Oval today.The pair, who have been in glittering form so far this season, guided the Warriors to 3-265 in 47.1 overs, after SA had set what looked to be a competitive target of 7-262 from its 50 overs.Goodwin and Hussey came together with WA at 3-112 in the 28th over and needing to score at a rate nearing seven runs per over to win.They managed it with ease, with an unbroken 153-run stand in just 121 balls.Hussey top-scored with 84 from 74 balls, although he benefited from a dropped chance in the outfield by Paul Rofe, when he was on 30.But Goodwin was the more impressive, notching 80 runs from 63 balls, with seven boundaries, in seemingly effortless fashion.It continued the form he showed in scoring an unbeaten double-century in a Pura Cup match against NSW last week.”Batting’s going well, I keep telling the guys you’re only as good as your next innings, but they say you’re only as good as your last,” Goodwin said”Some days it comes off for you and other days it doesn’t.”It was really nice to bat with Mike and we usually bat pretty well together and fortunately we came up with the goods.”On the way, he notched the season’s fastest 50 so far, from 38 balls, putting himself in pole position to win the $5,000 prize to be awarded to the scorer of the season’s fastest 50.Another former Zimbabwean batsman, South Australia’s Andy Flower, claimed a $50,000 prize today when he hit an ING sign with a stylish swept six off WA part-timer Marcus North late in SA’s innings.Flower, in his first home match since joining the Redbacks this season, was impressive in his innings of 74 from 73 balls which helped rescue the Redbacks after a mid-innings slump.Flower and youngster Mark Cosgrove (50 from 75 balls) put on a 107-run fifth-wicket stand from 121 balls to help SA to a solid total.Flower said Hussey and Goodwin had been nearly unstoppable.”We’ve played a few games against them now and Goodwin’s come in each time as if he’s on 70, he’s hit the ball in the middle of the bat straight away, so it’s good on them, I suppose and disappointing for us,” he said.

Chris Cairns is back!That’s the obvious conclusion after he ripped through the Bangladesh batting on the last morning of the rain-affected first National Bank Test at Hamilton to give New Zealand its 48th Test victory, by an innings and 52 runs.Cairns took five wickets in 38 balls, for seven runs, to achieve his career second-best innings figures in a manner resembling his dismantling of the West Indies when he took seven for 27, two years and two days ago on the same ground.He finished with seven for 53 from 18.2 overs, as the Bangladeshis expired for 108, losing their last six wickets for 18 runs.Running in with more of the familiar bounce in his stride and bowling some of his speciality balls, Cairns looked much more like the player of old.Clearly, the overs bowled in Australia, while more costly than he would have liked, have aided his return and the longer spell he had on the fourth afternoon set him up for his triumph this morning.He dealt a harsh lesson to Test cricket’s newcomers. They have grown up on a diet of one-day cricket and that has been reflected in their inability to apply themselves for a long innings.They were dismissed in 46.2 overs in the second innings, after managing 205 in 58.1 overs in the first innings.When Cairns removed overnight batsman Al Sahariar for 53, it was as if the fight which had carried the side so close to avoiding the follow-on in the first innings, had evaporated in the heat of the morning on the best weather day of the Test.For the second time in the innings Cairns was sitting on a hat-trick when having Khaled Mashud caught at first slip by Stephen Fleming and Khaled Mahmud held at second slip by Mathew Sinclair when the score was on 98.He had to wait until his next over to complete the chance but Sanwar Hossain managed to keep the ball out.Sanwar had looked a likely competitor in the first innings when scoring 45 on his Test debut, but he found scoring much more difficult with the better organised New Zealand bowling of the second innings and he was out for 12 from 60 balls he faced.He was well bowled by Shane Bond, who finished with two wickets for 28 runs, to give him a match haul of six for 75, and an improving average, albeit at 40.44.The end came quickly, meaning the match was ended in 181.4 overs, thought to be the third quickest Test win completed in New Zealand, and certainly the second fastest of New Zealand’s Test victories at home.The fastest game was Australia’s win in 1945/46 which was all over in 145.2 overs. New Zealand beat England in 1983/84 in 173.3 overs.The 108 was Bangladesh’s fourth lowest score in its Test history, having a lowest of 90 against Sri Lanka in an Asian Championship match in September.New Zealand will make one change for the second Test starting in Wellington on Wednesday with in-form Auckland batsman Matt Horne coming in for the injured Nathan Astle.Astle injured his right hand when batting and had an x-ray yesterday which revealed only bruising.However, the hand was still sore this morning and an MRI scan was done to reveal a hairline crack in a bone on the back of his hand. It was initially thought that he would miss only the second Test, but now there is concern that he could be out for the complete tri-series in Australia with the home country and South Africa.That team is to be named on January 3.

Karachi, April 5: Pakistan made a winning start to their tour of WestIndies when they defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets in the tri-nationone-day series match at Antigua’s Recreation Park.Chasing a target of 200, Pakistan achieved victory with 17 balls tospare. Abdur Razzaq (28 not out) hit the winning boundary. With himwas Moin Khan (25 not out). Shahid Afridi who blasted two sixes andfive fours in his breezy run-a-ball 69 put But Pakistan on course fora comfortable win.Afridi, adjudged Man-of-the-Match, added 67 runs for the third wicketwith Inzamam-ul-Haq (32). But both the batsmen perished in anidentical fashion – holing out in the deep off Dirk Viljoen.Pakistan found themselves in some sorts of problems when YousufYouhana (21) was run-out in a terrible mix-up with Moin Khan.Pakistan restrict ZimbabweAntigua, April 5: Backed up by some sharp catching and groundfielding, Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 199 for nine in the thirdmatch of the tri-nation one-day series at the Recreation Ground hereon Wednesday.The target is not that challenging considering Pakistan’s depth inbatting, but to achieve it they will have to bat really well tomaintain nearly four runs an over.Considering the state of the wicket, which seemingly is slow and alsohas the tendency to keep low with uneven bounce, the Zimbabweans didwell even to reach the ultimate score.An opening stand of 59 between Grant Flower and Neil Johnson was agood enough launching pad for Zimbabwe. But none of the batsmen wereable to get hold of the Pakistan bowling which rarely allowed anyliberty to the batsmen.Pakistan spinners Mushtaq Ahmad, Shahid Afridi and Arshad Khan sentdown tidy and economical overs to be rewarded with wickets. Alsoimpressive with the leather were Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzaq andMohammad Akram.Pakistan had their first breakthrough when out-of-form Grant Flowerplayed uppishly at short mid-wicket to be caught by Younis Khan offRazzaq when 36. Two runs later Johnson, also struggling to gain someform, was well taken at mid-wicket by Imran Nazir off spinner ArshadKhan for 20.Stuart Carlisle and Murray Goodwin did attempt to force the pace butwithout success. They, however, did share a stand of 41 runs for thethird wicket.Leg-spinner Mushtaq, playing after a long absence, lured Carlisle tothe deep mid-wicket region where Yousuf Youhana had no problem inmaking the catch. Carlisle made 30 with four fours in 38 balls.Goodwin, attempting a massive hit, lofted the ball on the top of thewicket-keeper’s head and Imran Nazir, running from covers, took yetanother catch as Goodwin went for 16 in the 27th over with Zimbabwe on109.Derek Viljoen made three before being run out by Younis Khan.Andy Flower, the captain, and Guy Whittall salvaged the situation alittle to add 33 for the sixth wicket. Flower, like Carlisle, alsowent hitting the ball in the air when 18.Heath streak dropped twice, once by Moin Khan off Razzaq when 13 andagain by Younis Khan of Mohammad Akram, finally holed out to Moinedging Mohammad Akram but not before adding 37 runs with Whittall whokept the score going. Not much later, Mluleki Nkala fell to WaqarYounis and Whittall became the ninth man out as he swung and missed toAkram. He made 31 off 65 balls with only one four.

Newcastle United have learned the latest on the future of Lyon defender Jason Denayer who has been previously linked with a summer move to St. James’ Park.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to Belgian outlet Derniere Heure via The Chronicle, the centre-back’s agent Jesse de Preter said that his client’s next decision will be a ‘sporting’ one.

“Jason remains open to an extension,” de Preter said.

“He is in a comfortable situation and has the luxury of being able to weigh the pros and cons in order to make the right decision.

“His ambition is to play in a Champions League final. Not a dream, an ambition.

“He is entering the best four or five years of his career and wants to make a purely sporting choice.”

The Mirror reported last month that Newcastle are on red alert for the 26-year-old whose contract at the Ligue 1 club expires in June and who spent the 2016/17 Premier League season on loan at the Magpies’ fierce rivals Sunderland from Manchester City.

Now five years on, the defender is much more mature and has proven to be a shrewd acquisition for French outfit Lyon who signed Denayer from City in August 2018.

Newcastle should sign Denayer

Despite previous connections with Newcastle’s unpopular North-East neighbours, Denayer would certainly be a good signing Eddie Howe’s squad.

The additions of Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier have so far bode well for the Magpies but adding the Belgian at the back would certainly solidify United.

Five years ago, the 26-year-old played 27 times for the Black Cats as they were relegated from the Premier League, a level that the League One outfit can only dream of currently.

Prior to his spell on Wearside, the centre-back excelled on loan for Celtic and emerged in the Belgium set up, with then-manager Marc Wilmots saying: “Jason is like Eden Hazard. Always calm. I’ve never seen him nervous; he has a lot of confidence and there will be someone with experience standing next to him.”

The following campaign saw Denayer join Turkish outfit Galatasaray on loan, for who the Belgian made 22 appearances.

However, it never worked out for the defender at Manchester City, who cashed in on the 33-capped Belgium international in 2018 after he failed to make a single appearance for the first team.

Lyon were the buyers, whom Denayer has made 136 appearances for, 17 of which in the Champions League, and has developed into a mature, European-level defender, something that has been few and far between for the Magpies in recent years.

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Indeed, the Toon Army haven’t seen a defender as popular as former centre-back Fabricio Coloccini come through the door at St. James’ Park since the Argentinian’s departure in 2016 and are certainly in need of that type of figure at the back.

During eight years on Tyneside, the now-retired defender made 275 appearances for the Magpies, playing in the Premier League, Europa League and even the Championship for the North-East club.

No other centre-back has come close to that sort of tally but, with serious investment from PIF, there is certainly a possibility for Newcastle to add a defender of serious quality to their ranks in the summer.

Although he has worn the dread red and white of Sunderland in the past, Denayer is a European level defender with plenty of international experience and could be purchased for a bargain fee, with Transfermarkt valuing the 26-year-old at £18m with his contract set to expire in the summer.

In other news: Newcastle learn the latest on Callum Wilson’s fitness

Sri Lanka Board President’s XI 298 for 9 (Tharanga 86, de Silva 1*, Amerasinghe 0*, Hoggard 3-57) v England XI
Scorecard

Matthew Hoggard showed good form with 3 for 57 © Getty Images

Steve Harmison’s new back injury cast a shadow over what was otherwisean encouraging day’s labour for England’s bowlers, as Matthew Hoggardand Monty Panesar warmed up for the first Test with three wicketsapiece. By the close of the first day at the Nondescripts CricketClub, the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI had slipped to 298 for 9,having at one stage been well placed on 287 for 5.The mainstay of the Sri Lankan performance was once again UpulTharanga, who enhanced his own prospects of a Test recall with afluent innings of 86 to add to his century in England’s openingwarm-up. Another member of Sri Lanka’s Test squad, Jehan Mubarak,chipped in with 68 from 143 deliveries, while the young wicketkeeper,Kaushal Silva, made a dogged 53 despite being struck a painful blow onthe wrist by a loose shy from Kevin Pietersen.The talking point of the day, however, was Harmison’s injury. Itoccurred after the third ball of his 11th over, just as he wasreturning for his fourth spell of the day. Up until that point heappeared to be gathering rhythm and confidence in equal measures, andwas markedly improved on his lacklustre six-over performance earlierin the week. He bounded to the crease with menace and picked up hisfirst wicket of the tour when the President’s XI captain, TillakaratneDilshan, spooned an attempted pull to James Anderson at mid-on.With competition for places high among England’s fast bowlers, Hoggardand Anderson were handed the new ball, and Hoggard might have struckwith the fourth ball of the morning when Mahela Udawatte survived araucous appeal for caught-behind. Hoggard, who experimented withcutters and slower balls in a bid to overcome the conditions, dideventually get his man on 18, caught by a diving Michael Vaughan atmid-on to end an opening stand of 55.Anderson, who had also been suffering from a back problem in the earlystages of the tour, bowled a hostile but luckless first spell, and itwas the unlikely character of Ravi Bopara who provided England’s nextbreakthrough. Although his principal aim in this match is to outscoreOwais Shah at No. 6, Bopara did his prospects no harm whatsoever in awaspish 11-over spell. Tharanga was badly dropped by Vaughan off ano-ball, before Malinda Warnapura tried to force one off the back footthrough the covers, and edged a simple chance through to Matt Priorfor 16.

Monty Panesar picked up two wickets in two balls © Getty Images

Dilshan, who made a duck in the first of these two fixtures, signalledhis intent by smashing an Anderson bouncer out of the ground and intoa passing tuk-tuk, but he fell in Harmison’s second over after lunch.Tharanga was the next to go, well caught by Ian Bell at second slip asAnderson cramped him for room outside off stump, and before ChamaraKapugedera could pick up where he had left off in the first match, hewas expertly snaffled by Bopara at short midwicket, off the bowling ofHoggard.Thereafter England found the going somewhat tougher, as Mubarak andSilva dug in for a 105-run stand, but with the light beginning tofade, Panesar got in on the act. With his rhythm improving throughouta 22-over spell, he grabbed two wickets in two balls, as Silva poppeda simple chance to Alastair Cook at short leg, and KaushalLokuarachchi played back to be lbw for 0.Hoggard then chipped in with one last wicket of a typicallyhard-grafting spell, as Mubarak nicked an offcutter to Prior, andthree balls before the close Panesar had Chanaka Welegedara caught atshort leg, again by Cook. It was an uplifting end to England’s day,but Harmison’s injury still casts a shadow.

1994-95 in South Africa
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
Pakistan arrived in South Africa with confidence high on the back of a hard-earned Test series victory over Australia, but would finish the tour with defeat amid rumours of dressing room unrest. Only the inaugural Test between the two nations was played, with both sides also taking part in the quadrangular Mandela Trophy held in South Africa before the tour started. Pakistan lost both their warm-up matches convincingly, to Western Province and Natal, and South Africa beat them by 324 runs in the Test at Johannesburg to record their largest win on home soil. Brian McMillan, with a maiden Test century, and Fanie de Villiers, who claimed ten wickets, were the heroes for South Africa, while Inzamam-ul-Haq gave further notice of his burgeoning talent with a defiant 95 in Pakistan’s second innings. Pakistan’s cause had not been helped by unfortunate injuries, with Waqar Younis pulling out on the eve of the Johannesburg Test, but it was clear that they had lost their discipline by the end of their stay. Worse was to follow, as they left South Africa for an ill-tempered tour of Zimbabwe.
South Africa 1 Pakistan 0

Pat Symcox was an influential figure in the 1997-98 encounters © Getty Images

1997-98 in Pakistan
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The first meeting between the two teams in Pakistan was a chance for both to lay claim to the position of the leading challenger to Australia at the summit of the world game. It was South Africa who emerged victorious, thanks in no small part to a strong unit and the allround talents of Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Brian McMillan. Pollock and Allan Donald made for a formidable opening pair, in stark contrast to their counterparts Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram who, afflicted by injury and fatigue, did not play together until the final Test. Ironically, after a dead pitch and poor weather had ensured draws at Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura, this was to prove the decider. South Africa, inspired by the words and deeds of Pat Symcox and four second-innings wickets in seven balls by Pollock, came back from a big deficit to bowl Pakistan out for 92 and record a remarkable 53-run victory. For Pakistan the spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq impressed throughout, while Ali Navqi and Azhar Mahmood became the first pair of same-team debutants to score a century in the same Test at Rawalpindi, but the defeat was an opportunity missed.
Tests: Pakistan 0 South Africa 1
1997-98 in South Africa
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
In the intervening four months before they met again in South Africa, Pakistan had regained the winning habit and thumped the West Indies 3-0 at home, while South Africa had gone down narrowly 1-0 in Australia. The stage was set for a battle between two well balanced sides, and accordingly the series was fairly drawn 1-1. Inevitably, however, the tour was dominated by controversy involving Pakistan. They arrived under a cloud surrounding Wasim Akram’s controversial omission, officially for fitness reasons, and Rashid Latif became their fourth captain in ten months. Allegations of match-fixing refused to go away and the gossips had a field-day when the first Test had to be postponed for twenty-four hours after two Pakistan players were supposedly mugged outside the team hotel. Whispers that the attacks had in fact taken place in local nightspots could not be proved, but the mud had stuck. The first Test at Johannesburg was a disappointing draw, notable only for Pat Symcox scoring 108 from number 10 in the order. Pakistan showed a fleeting glance of their remarkable abilities at Durban, with the spin of Mushtaq Ahmed helping them to a 29-run victory, but shot themselves in the foot in the final Test at Port Elizabeth. The recall of a clearly unfit Wasim Akram did little for team unity and Pakistan were heavily beaten, once more unable to convert their undoubted talent into a consistent level of performance.
Tests: South Africa 1 Pakistan 1

Waqar Younis struggled to control his team amid controversy in 2002-03 © Getty Images

2002-03 in South Africa
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The chaos that traditionally surround Pakistan plumbed new depths as they were soundly beaten in both the one-day and Test series by a ruthless South African side. Pakistan arrived on the back of a demoralising thrashing at the hands of Australia, but had regained some pride with convincing displays in Zimbabwe. However, when the real contest got underway they were found severely lacking. Save for one inspired batting performance they were poor in the one-dayers and went down 4-1, and things did not get much better as South Africa won both Tests convincingly. Once again the Pakistan camp was split throughout, with Wasim Akram, predictably, at the heart of things. Shoaib Akhtar withdrew from the first Test through injury and subsequently threw himself with gusto into the Durban nightlife, epitomising the prevailing attitude of the tourists, and the captain Waqar Younis appeared to have little hope of changing things around. South Africa profited from the Pakistanis decision to enter both Tests with just three bowlers and an allrounder, racking up 368 at Durban and 620 at Cape Town to gain a firm grip on each match that they never looked likely to relinquish. Pakistan pleaded exhaustion, while the result moved South Africa above Australia to the top of the ICC Test rankings, an outcome that appeared farcical in the wake of their comprehensive defeats at home and away to the Australians the previous year.
Tests: South Africa 2 Pakistan 0
ODIs: South Africa 4 Pakistan 12003-04 in Pakistan
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
When a bomb exploded in Karachi 48 hours before South Africa were due to arrive it looked like the tour was a non-starter. However, the discovery that the explosion was gang-related and had nothing to do with terrorism made the United Cricket Board of South Africa’s decision to cancel the tour look unnecessarily hasty. Inevitably, after much wrangling, the tour went ahead after all, albeit with an altered schedule that saw two Tests played instead of three and a further two one-day internationals added. On the pitch controversy was never far away either. Andrew Hall was banned after getting unnecessarily physical in the ODIs while his captain Graeme Smith was also punished. South Africa hit back, accusing Shoaib Akhtar of verbally abusing Paul Adams in the first Test. Akhtar was suspended and honours were even on that score, but the atmosphere between the two teams did not recover as the remainder of the series was played out in near silence, with players straining to steer clear of trouble. Pakistan won the series 1-0, with the pace of Akhtar and 99 from Asim Kamal on debut guiding them to victory in the first Test at Faisalabad. The second Test was drawn, with South Africa once more left to rue costly dropped catches as Pakistan clung on. It capped a disappointing tour for the South Africans, who appeared to have little stomach for the trip after a gruelling tour of England and for whom further contests with the West Indies and New Zealand lay in store. They did have the consolation of victory in the one-day series, but Pakistan’s greater firepower proved decisive in the longer game.
Tests: Pakistan 1 South Africa 0
ODIs: Pakistan 2 South Africa 32006-07 in South Africa
Cricinfo site
South Africa, fresh from beating India 2-1, were thoroughly tested at home by a strong Pakistan side before winning by the same margin. The tourists initially left out Shoaib Akhtar, ostensibly on fitness grounds – and allegedly due to a strained relationship with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq – but recalled him three days before the series began as Umar Gul pulled out with an ankle injury.Makhaya Ntini and Mohammad Asif ran through each others’ batting line-ups in the first Test at Centurion, but Ashwell Prince and Herschelle Gibbs’ 213-run fifth-wicket stand ensured South Africa edged ahead. Paul Harris’ four wickets left the hosts with less than 200 to get, which they chased down comfortably. The one black spot was a two-match ban for Gibbs, on grounds of racial abuse during an altercation with spectators. Pakistan fought back in Port Elizabeth, a lethal Shoaib ripping apart South Africa – and then joining Gul on the injury list with a hamstring problem – before Ntini replied in kind, but Inzamam made the difference with an imperious unbeaten 92 at No. 8. Asif and Danish Kaneria ensured Pakistan would also chase under 200, which they did, after a few flutters. Inzamam hailed the win as his best. In the decisive Cape Town Test, Pakistan’s batting failed twice despite Mohammad Yousuf’s induction; the South Africans followed suit in the first innings, and threatened to implode again at 39 for 4, before Jacques Kallis and Prince gave them a second series win in under a month.South Africa’s bowlers, led by Shaun Pollock and Ntini, helped them to an emphatic 3-1 result in the ODI series as Pakistan collapsed in the last two matches.Tests: South Africa 2 Pakistan 1
ODIs: South Africa 3 Pakistan 1

ScorecardDarren Lehmann continued his love affair with interstate bowlers as he posted a quickfire century that pushed his season aggregate to 818 runs and ensured South Australia were in charge after day one. Lehmann, the captain, arrived after Mark Cosgrove collected a breezy 72, which included seven fours in 102 balls, and by stumps he had reached 102 as his side sped to 5 for 358.South Australia ran away in the final session as Lehmann shared a 113-run partnership with Graham Manou (67) and departed with his fourth hundred of the season. Lehmann reached three figures with a square-driven boundary, his 14th of the innings, and he recorded the milestone from his 127th ball.”Everyone looks up to [Lehmann] because he is such a role model and leader,” Cosgrove told . “Him making hundred after hundred is just amazing.”The day began badly for the Redbacks with Dan Cullen ruled out for a month with a broken ring finger on his right hand and Greg Blewett missing because of a thigh strain suffered in Saturday’s ING Cup match against Tasmania. Lehmann won the toss but the Redbacks were in more discomfort at 2 for 28 after Brendan Drew, who was playing his second match, picked up both wickets before Cosgrove steered clear of danger with Cameron Borgas.

Scorecard
A sensational spell of bowling from Paul Wiseman for Canterbury resulted in the second-best haul in an innings in New Zealand cricket history. Wiseman took nine for 13 off 16.4 overs as CD slumped to 122 all out, and defeat by 343 runs. Only AE Moss, who took 10 for 28 for Canterbury in the summer of 1889-90 on his first-class debut, has done better.It was a stunning performance in a match where the bat had dominated the ball, but Wiseman said afterwards that it was an ideal pitch for spin bowling because of the bounce it possessed and the footmarks left by Central Districts’ two left-arm medium-fast bowlers.What was expected to be an all-day battle for CD was over before lunch with Wiseman joining three other bowlers in New Zealand to have taken nine wickets in this country, not forgetting Sir Richard Hadlee’s nine wickets in an innings at Brisbane in 1985-86.Chris Martin was the only other wicket taker in the innings, having taken Jamie How’s wicket, the first to fall in the innings. CD were two down overnight and then Wiseman struck, as eight wickets fell for 24 runs.
Scorecard
Otago needed to bat well into the second session to be in a position to deny Northern Districts an outright win at Gisborne’s Harry Barker Reserve but they were unable to prevent an eight-wicket defeat. Craig Cumming, the Otago captain, achieved his 10th first-class century after being 99 not out overnight, but could add only seven more runs before being dismissed. The end came all too quickly, with the last five wickets falling for 12 runs as Joseph Yovich and Graeme Aldridge cleaned up the innings. Yovich took 4 for 42 and Aldridge 3 for 55.This was a remarkable win, with the highlight being four young players making their debuts in the same game. One of them, Brad Wilson, who just missed a century on debut in the first innings, was unfazed by the importance of the job ahead of him as ND chased down the 186 they needed for victory. Wilson scored another 35, while BJ Watling, who debuted earlier in the season, scored 64. Matt Hart, the side’s old hand, was there when the winning runs were scored.
Scorecard
Wellington head into the last day of their match with Auckland in danger of undoing the chance they have of beating the home side at Eden Park. Having achieved a 99-run lead on the first innings, Wellington slipped to 97 for six by stumps, as Kerry Walmsley (3 for 23) and Andre Adams, with two for 24, pinned them down. It was the first time in the series that Auckland had been denied first-innings points.Auckland struggled through the latter stages of their innings. Aaron Barnes scored 75 and at 310 for 6, they were looking competitive. However, they lost their last four wickets for only 18 runs as James Franklin, who took four for 64, and Iain O’Brien, with four for 76, did the damage.Wellington then set out to build an unassailable position only to find the Auckland bowling shut them down. Neal Parlane’s innings typified this as he top-scored with 41, painstakingly compiled in 132 minutes. Matthew Bell also laboured 108 minutes for 17.

Shoaib Akhtar’s appeal against a ban for one Test and two one-day internationals has been rejected by Richie Benaud, in his role as ICC Code of Conduct Commissioner.Shoaib was handed the ban by Clive Lloyd, the match referee of the first Test at Lahore, during which Shoaib was alleged to have used abusive language to Paul Adams, thus breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct. He will now be ineligible to play in the second Test against South Africa at Faisalabad, but he was doubtful for that game anyway after straining his hamstring. Shoaib’s next game, fitness permitting, will now probably come in the third ODI of the forthcoming home series against New Zealand.Benaud, the former Australian captain who is now a respected TV commentator, said in his judgment: “In my view, the reason for the implementing of the ICC Code is so captains in particular and players in general will embrace the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket, which makes quite clear what is required of them on the field.”He went on: “The appeal I am asked to determine relates to the sentence imposed by Mr Lloyd, not to the actual offence. It seems to me that Mr Lloyd correctly followed the Code of Conduct rules in every way after Shoaib Akhtar accepted, and said, he was guilty.”This was Shoaib’s second breach of the clause involving abusive language in the last 12 months, so the penalty imposed was “upgraded to that of a Level 3 offence in line with the provisions of the Code”, according to the ICC.