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A fine exibition of bowling by medium pacer Koushik Choudhuri with amatch analysis of 8 for 58 helped Assam defeat Tripura by an inningsand 73 runs in an East Zone Cooch Behar Trophy match at thePolytechnic Institute Ground at Agartala.Tripura, who opted to bat on the first day piled up 368 on the board.R Banik (70) was the topscorer in an innings which witnessed some finebatting by Rasudeb Dutta (57) and Rajib Saha (54). In response, theAssam innings folded up in the 50th over with only 97 on the board.The innings saw four Assam batsmen failing to open their accounts.Following on 271 runs behind, Assam in their second innings faredlittle better. Medium pacer, Kousik Choudhuri who picked up 4 for 13in the first innings ran through them for the second time along withTushar Saha (3 for 42). Choudhuri claimed four for 45, taking histally to 8 in the match.

After scoring an unbeaten 88 which secured Bangladesh’s seven-wicket win against South Africa, Soumya Sarkar revealed that he kept trying to pull the short balls since he was confident he had the mindset to take on the visitors’ attack. Soumya said that he was not worried about the consequences, like getting out, but understood the need to prolong his good starts.”I heard from somewhere that they will stop me by bowling bouncers,” Soumya said. “I wanted to play at them, even if I got out. I wanted to get out of that mindset. I planned that no matter how fast they bowl and how much they try to bounce me, I just wanted to take them on.”South Africa’s pace attack bowled eleven deliveries to Soumya that ranged between very short to just short of good length, but the batsman either managed to get on top of the bounce, or threw himself at a pull. He initially got mixed results as many of the balls fell short of the mid-off fielder after he failed to time it.But later in the innings, after Soumya had crossed 60, he cracked a pull emphatically off Kagiso Rabada for four. It was a statement of intent that he later said wanted to deliver to the opposition attack. Soumya added that South Africa hardly gave him breathing space like he received from the Pakistan attack on his way to an unbeaten 127 three months ago. He rated this unbeaten knock higher than the century.”Against South Africa, I have had to make a bad ball as they weren’t giving away. Pakistan were giving at least one bad ball per over. This was a tougher knock. We were chasing a bigger total against Pakistan so we could plan accordingly. Small targets are always hard to chase. We have to change plans quickly. You have to start fresh after quick wickets. I will keep this innings ahead.”In the four innings after his maiden century on April 22, Soumya failed to bat for more than 47 deliveries or 70 minutes. He made 54, 34, 40 and 27, but got out trying to attack further. The BCB president Nazmul Hasan had mentioned the same to him during their meeting on Saturday, but Soumya said he has heard the exact same thing from everyone.”Everyone says the same thing. Even those who are younger than me tell me, ‘Bro, please finish your innings’. I have been getting used to this,” he said. “I didn’t do too many different things to prolong my innings. My target wasn’t to score a 50 or a 100 but to finish the chase. I just wanted to play till the end.”Soumya said that he minimised the risk in his plan to play a longer innings. Bangladesh’s poor start of losing Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das by the fourth over also contributed to his subdued start.”I cut down one or two of my shots thinking that it might bring me a positive result. A big innings always brings relief. I started differently today but that was due to the circumstances. I think I faced just one ball in the first three-four overs. We had lost two wickets by then so I had to think fresh. I had thought earlier that I would play in my own way. But the two wickets changed my plans.”The other factor he feels helped was having Mahmudullah back in the team. Soumya and Mahmudullah added 135 runs for the third wicket that took Bangladesh within four runs of victory. The pair has already added three fifty-plus stands and Soumya said Mahmudullah understands his game the best, which helps them bat well together.”Since the World Cup whenever I see Riyad bhai come to bat, I smile. I do that whenever I see him in the middle. Today I told him everything is fine. But what he tells me, I always take it seriously. He understands my batting very well.”

Chris Rogers is set to be clear to play in the third Test of the Investec Ashes series in Birmingham after scans cleared him of serious damage following his retired hurt on the final morning of the Lord’s Test.On day two of the Test, Rogers was struck on the helmet near the right ear by James Anderson, and two days later had to leave the field as he complained of dizziness while standing at the non-striker’s end.There was considerable concern for Rogers due to a recent history of concussion – he missed both Tests of the West Indies tour after being struck on the helmet by the Dominican net bowler Anderson Burton – and the team doctor Peter Brukner sought independent medical advice in London the day after Australia’s 405-run victory at Lord’s.Rogers did not take the field after his dizzy spell but stayed with the team for their celebrations in the dressing rooms, after levelling the Ashes series at 1-1. Brukner said the signs of Rogers’ progress were promising.”Chris’s condition is certainly improving. He has had scans and seen a specialist since yesterday to help determine the cause of his dizziness,” he said. “The initial scans have cleared him of any serious damage and we await the results of further tests.”It appears the most likely diagnosis is a delayed ear problem related to being struck on day two of the Test match. We are confident that this is something we can manage in the lead up to the third Test at Edgbaston.”As a precaution he’ll be reviewed by the specialist in London again on Wednesday morning before re-joining the touring party. Chris was not scheduled to play in the tour match against Derbyshire, so he has time to continue resting ahead of the Test match.”Having made his highest Test score of 173 and then 49 in the second innings at the time of his retired hurt, Rogers is a central plank of Australia’s batting order in this series, though he has flagged he will most likely retire from international cricket after the Ashes.”He’s important for a period of time,” the coach Darren Lehmann said. “I think he’s made it clear he’s not going to come on the next Ashes tour, although he’d probably like to, as a tour host. He knows these conditions so well, he loves England and he helps our batters out, that’s the most pleasing thing.”He helps our batters and bowlers about conditions here and for example Middlesex and Lord’s, all the angles you’ve got to play with the slope. He knows them so well, he’s a very important part of this tour.”

ScorecardMark Cosgrove gave his side some batting ballast•Getty Images

Captain Mark Cosgrove hit his first home century for Leicestershire as the Foxes passed 300 for the first time in 15 county championship innings.The Australian hit 15 fours and a six in going to his hundred off 114 deliveries before edging the following delivery, from Mark Footitt, to first slip, where opposite number Wayne Madsen held the catch.Earlier Madsen had been left unbeaten on 172, made from 292 balls, after Derbyshire lost their two remaining first innings wickets in adding 25 runs to their overnight score of 320-8.Footitt registered a first class career best with the bat, scoring 31 before losing his middle stump to Charlie Shreck, and when last man Ben Cotton was bowled by Clint McKay for 1, it left captain Madsen unbeaten.When Leicestershire began their response, opener Angus Robson scored a quick-fire unbeaten half-century, a badly needed effort by the Foxes after losing Robson’s fellow opener Lewis Hill, caught at second slip by Wes Durston off the bowling of Mark Foottit for 5, and then Ned Eckersley, run out without scoring at the non-striker’s end after being sent back by Robson, to leave them wobbling on 15-2.Robson was dismissed by Footitt in the second over after lunch, going back to a rising delivery from Footitt and edging to wicket-keeper Harvey Hosein.The home team then lost Aadil Ali, leg before on the back foot to Tony Palladino for 10, but Cosgrove and Niall O’Brien compiled a partnership of 97 for the fifth wicket before Cosgrove’s dismissal.Soon afterwards, however, Madsen took Footitt out of the attack after the left-armer received a second official warning for running on to the pitch in his follow through. He returned after tea from the opposite end, picking up the wicket of Ben Raine caught at square leg after being hit painfully by the previous delivery.Palladino, in an outstanding spell after tea, had already bowled Andrea Agathangelou, and when Niall O’Brien edged Shiv Thakor to Hosein for 60, Leicestershire were again in danger of being dismissed for less than 300.But Rob Sayer, on his first class debut, and Clint McKay, steered the Foxes to a rare third batting bonus point.

ScorecardAxar Patel equalled his highest first-class score of 69•PTI

Axar Patel’s unbeaten half-century helped India A stretch their lead past 150 in the second unofficial Test against South Africa in Wayanad where only 22 overs were possible on the third day because of rain.Resuming on 342 for 6, the hosts lost Ankush Bains in the third over of the day. Bains, who added only a run to his overnight score of 34, was dismissed by seamer Hardus Viljoen. India A were dealt another blow an over later when offspinner Dane Piedt bowled Jayant Yadav to register his 12th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.At 348 for 8, the visitors must have fancied restricting India A’s lead to under 100 runs, but Axar and Karn Sharma had other ideas. They put on an unbroken partnership of 69 runs even as Axar, who went to stumps on 69 off 93 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, completed his fifth first-class half-century and equalled his highest score. Karn was unbeaten on 19.

WICB unable to settle BCCI’s financial claim

The working committee was informed that the West Indies Cricket Board was in no position to settle the US$42 million claim for aborting their series in India last year. Instead, the WICB has expressed the desire to make up for the losses by playing a full series in India in 2017.
The series in October last year was called off by the West Indies players halfway through due to their payment dispute with the WICB. It resulted in BCCI roping in Sri Lanka to fill in for the lost games and then claiming a hefty sum from the WICB.

The BCCI has decided to share with its state units the money recovered from the settlement with broadcaster of the Champions League T20 for scrapping its deal with the board. This means each of the BCCI’s state units will earn a little over Rs 30 crore (US$ 4.6 million approx) from the Indian board for the financial year 2014-15.According to the annual accounts report that the working committee passed in Mumbai on Sunday, the BCCI recovered Rs 617 crore from Star India Pvt Ltd for scrapping the CLT20 broadcast deal. It was decided that half of the amount, Rs 308.5 crore, will be distributed equally among the 25 state units that receive annual benefits from the BCCI; the BCCI has 30 full members but Services, Railways, All India Universities, Cricket Club of India and National Cricket Club do not enjoy an annual grant.So, each of the eligible members will earn Rs 12.34 crore out of the settlement, in addition to their share from the BCCI’s broadcast deals for international cricket in India and the IPL.The working committee was briefed that each member will get approximately Rs 9 crore out of the earnings on the broadcast deal for international cricket in India, and Rs 9 crore each from the IPL. The BCCI annually distributes 70% of its income through these two broadcast deals to its eligible members.With India playing very little cricket at home over the last two years, the revenues have been hit. The share of the state associations is likely to double in the coming year, though, with India involved in multiple series at home.

Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka batsman, has enrolled for the draft of the franchise-based T20 tournament Pakistan Super League (PSL). Sangakkara has also registered for another franchise-based T20 tournament – Masters Champions League (MCL) – that is expected to run concurrently with the PSL but at different venues in the UAE.The inaugural PSL will feature five franchise-based teams from the provincial capitals – Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad – with prize money of $1 million. The tournament is scheduled to run from February 4 to 24 in Dubai and Sharjah, and will feature 24 matches.The PCB has signed over 100 players, including big names such as Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Kevin Pietersen and Shakib Al Hasan, for the draft. The board will also hold an open auction for the five franchises and broadcast rights for the tournament in due course. The players will be picked via a draft set for December.”Sangakkara is a world-class sportsman and we are excited to welcome him on board,” Najam Sethi, the head of PSL, said. “He brings a wealth of experience to the PSL. His inclusion makes the player draft even more exciting.”While the PSL has announced the window for the event, the MCL is presently sorting its dates, which are likely to overlap with the former’s.Mahela Jayawardene has also agreed to play in the PSL and the players’ management team said that they will proritise the MCL, the prior commitment, over the PSL, should there be a clash.

Rishi Dhawan’s maiden List-A ton, followed by a six-wicket haul from Pankaj Jaiswal helped Himachal Pradesh beat Madhya Pradesh by 41 runs in Rajkot to qualify for the knockout stages.HP, after being inserted, rode on a 143-run stand for the fourth wicket between Robin Bist and Dhawan. Bist was eventually run out for 84, but Dhawan carried on and remained unbeaten on 117 off 88 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes. Their efforts ensured HP posted a sizable total of 295 for 5.Plenty of MP batsmen made starts in their chase, but only Venkatesh Iyer could compile a much-needed half-century, as the team struggled for meaningful partnerships. Jaiswal ended with a career-best 6 for 33, as MP were dismissed for 254 in 46.1 overs.Samarth Vyas made 94 on List A debut to help Saurashtra beat Bengal by six wickets, but it wasn’t enough to help them qualify for the knockouts as Himachal Pradesh.Bengal’s batsmen were guilty of frittering away starts – as many as three of them got out in the 40s- as they posted 243 for 5. Abhimanyu Easwaran top scored with 48, while Dharmendra Jadeja did bulk of the damage, finishing with 3 for 46 off 10 overs. Saurashtra’s chase was driven forward by Vyas, who put on a 136-run opening stand with Sheldon Jackson (50), before Cheteshwar Pujara’s unbeaten 50 steered them home with four overs to spare.

Another dismal collapse by the most successful state in Australian cricket history, New South Wales, saw Victoria handed a 148-run win in the Pura Milk Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.Sixteen wickets fell in little more than three hours today, with the Blues, chasing a realistic target of 265 to win in 91 overs, bundled out for just 116. Apart from Michael Bevan (43*), no other NSW batsman lasted at the crease for more than half an hour. Victorian captain Paul Reiffel put in a fine early spell, taking 3/23 to add to his 4/74 in the first innings to win man of the match.Victoria collapsed in the first hour of play today from their overnight score of 4/149 to be all out for 178, Stuart MacGill (3/34) and Jamie Heath (3/37) cleaning up the tail. Any thoughts of a morning declaration were put aside following the Victorian collapse, but the NSW bats squandered any prospect of chasing a competitive target.Bevan, who also scored 132 in the first innings, stood out among the NSW lineup. It is curious that he was the only New South Welshman in the Australian ODI squad to tour New Zealand who was not “rested” for this match. The Waugh twins, the Lee brothers, and Glenn McGrath (who has not played a shield match for NSW since October 1997) were all allowed to sit this one out.The other outstanding batsman of this match was Victoria’s Matthew Mott, who followed up his first-innings 148 with a dashing 99-ball 77. His second innings knock was completed in the late Saturday afternoon gloom, rain delays forcing play yesterday to continue until 7.44pm under floodlights.As a result of this win, Victoria are now almost certain to take second place on the Pura Milk Cup ladder and face Queensland in the final at Allan Border Field, Brisbane. They still have a remote mathematical possibility of claiming first spot on quotients, and likewise either Western Australia or South Australia have a slim chance of bumping them out of the finals.One thing for certain after today’s result is that Tasmania are now out of finals contention. New South Wales’ hold on the wooden spoon is looking a whole lot firmer after today’s dismal display.

Karnataka completed an emphatic eight wicket win over Delhi in theRanji Trophy Super League Group A match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadiumat Bangalore on Thursday. Karnataka finished their fixtures with 19points and are placed second to Mumbai in this group. Mumbai withoutright victories in all their four games, ended with 32points. Karnataka being the reigning champions, have qualified for theknock-out stage of the national competition, along with Mumbai.Resuming at 182 for seven, Delhi were all out for 191 in 63.3overs. Venkatesh Prasad mopped up the tail and ended with figures offive for 36 giving him match figures of 11 for 96.Set to score 175 for victory, Karnataka were home in 40 overs. Theywere given a heady start with openers J Arun Kumar (32 runs of 47balls) and Mithun Beerala (101 not out of 122 balls) putting on 66runs in 14.3 overs. Roland Barrington was out for five in the 22ndover. But from 98 for 2, Vijay Bharadwaj (28 runs of 61 balls) helpedBeerala in an unbeaten third wicket stand worth 77 runs in 18 overs tosee Karnataka through.