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	Dirk Nannes’ hat-trick helped Middlesex to an unbeaten start in the Twenty20 competition © Getty Images

Australia have been playing an entertaining third Test against West Indies in Barbados over the past week, but in England the focus was on the Twenty20 tournament. For some of the Australian contingent it’s their last chance to book a place in the money-swilling Champions League.Stuart Law made a good start to his campaign, leading last year’s semi-finalists Lancashire to three wins in their first three matches of the North division. He made 22 from 17 balls against Leicestershire at Grace Road, wasn’t required in a ten-wicket success over Derbyshire in Derby and then picked up 21 from 10 in their first home match when they beat Leicestershire easily at Old Trafford.Darren Pattinson, who hasn’t been able to force his way into the first team of the Twenty20 Champions League-qualifiers Victoria, went wicketless in Nottinghamshire’s first match, a tight win against Yorkshire with four balls to spare at Headingley. His county team-mate Adam Voges, who is through to the Champions League with Western Australia, made an unbeaten 40 from 22 balls but could manage only 7 in their win against Durham at Trent Bridge, where Pattinson took two victims.The game proved to be Michael Di Venuto’s third shocker in a row – on a personal level at least. It was one of two ducks in three innings – his other score was 5 – but the team fared better. In the same division Chris Rogers was missing for Derbyshire while having a break, but he may come back in the latter stages.Dirk Nannes was the stand-out performer with a hat-trick as Middlesex made it three wins in three in the South/East division. He took 1 for 35 in the opener against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl and 1 for 22 in the second game, beating Essex at Lord’s, but it was in the third match that he really made a mark. He grabbed 4 for 28 against Essex at Chelmsford including a hat-trick. At one stage he had four wickets for two runs from two overs, having nailed Varun Chopra, Grant Flower and Ryan ten Doeschate in succession.Hampshire are breathing down Middlesex’s neck. Aside from their loss to the group toppers, when Sean Ervine took 1 for 30 from two and made 31, they won their other two affairs. Ervine collected 1 for 9 and a not-out 38 against Sussex at Hove, though he did not play against Kent on the Saturday. The fellow Australian and these days Twenty20 specialist, Ian Harvey, scored 22 in the Middlesex defeat then 29 in Hampshire’s successful chase of 205 against Sussex, which was completed on the final ball. He also posted a two-runs-a-ball 22 and took 1 for 28 from his four overs against Kent at Southampton.Matthew Nicholson has played only one game for Surrey so far. He was run-out for 7 and took 1 for 22 from three against Essex at The Oval.Over in the Midlands/West/Wales division Justin Langer could be forgiven for being a bit peeved that his team-mates haven’t backed up his runs, as Somerset lost all three of the opening matches. He got 32 in 30 balls against Northamptonshire in their opener at Taunton, 62 from 43 in a failed chase of Glamorgan’s 170 at Cardiff and 39 off 30 against Warwickshire at home.Marcus North’s 45 from 40 wasn’t enough for Gloucestershire against Worcestershire at Worcester and his four overs went wicketless for 28. Steve Magoffin’s four went for a painful 42, but he was soothed by the win and the dismissal of the dangerman Craig Spearman for 11. North’s last-gasp wicket ensured Gloucestershire tied an exciting fixture with Warwickshire at Bristol after he had made an unbeaten 31 from 29. His 36 from 29 couldn’t help against the unstoppable Northamptonshire, also at home.

Western Australia wrapped up their four day Pura Cup match against Victoria at the WACA ground in Perth today with a win by an innings and 69 runs.The final seven wickets had fallen 12 minutes after the lunch break after PaulWilson bowled his best ever figures of six wickets for 76 runs.Michael Klinger and Graeme Rummans 71 run fourth wicket partnership was broken when Rummans 32 (from 79 balls) edged Wilson to the keeper Adam Gilchrist when Victoria were 156 for four wickets. This was Wilson’s second wicket of the innings having removed Jon Moss the previous day.Klinger 39 (80 balls) also edged Wilson to Gilchrist when the score was 171for five. Wilson trapped Cameron White 12 (16 balls) in front, out leg before wicket when Victoria were 172 for six wickets.Victorian skipper Shane Warne 0 (5 balls) was next to go, having squared upin defense to Wilson and edging to Gilchrist also. Matthew Nicholson dismissed Darren Berry 25 (32 balls) for his only wicket of the match when he had Berry playing around the ball and was bowled through the gate.Michael Lewis and Robert Cassell took Victoria to lunch at eight for 235. Then Cassell was Brad Hogg’s third wicket (he took the first two on the previous day) when the batsman 18 (34 balls) went to pull into the leg side and was rapped on the pad in front of the stumps – judged leg before wicket by umpire Lock when the ninth wicket fell at 236.The final pair of Michael Lewis and Will Carr added a single leg bye to thescore before Carr 0 (4 balls) became Wilson’s sixth victim, edging to Damien Martyn at first slip. Lewis remained unbeaten on 17 (46 balls).Wilson was by far the best bowler of the second Victorian innings with first-class career best figures of six wickets for 76 (8 wickets for 94 for the match.) Brad Hogg secured three wickets and Matthew Nicholson one wicket. Jo Angel and Michael Clark were wicket-less at the end of the innings.Brad Hogg was named man of the match for his entertaining knock the yesterday and the importance of the wickets he removed.No Victorian batsman made 40 runs in twenty two batsman’s innings whilst forWestern Australia five half centuries were scored in from just eleven.After the match West Australian television viewers were appalled to seeVictorian coach David Hookes voice his displeasure with the author of an article in a prominent Western Australian Newspaper this morning. He went on to describe the Victorian effort in the most disparaging of terms. “Piss-hole.”Warne: “I was pretty happy to win the toss. I thought it was a pretty goodwicket. Then as we saw today, the cracks in there have opened up already. When you think it is only half way through day 3 and you imagine what they are going to be like tomorrow, I think one hundred and fifty would have been tough to get last. Had we have batted better in the first innings it would have been a good decision to bat. We just didn’t bat well enough first.””If we had have fought back yesterday and bowled the WACA’s out for little bit of a less score, every run would have been a little bit harder. The WACA’s would have known what it would have been like to bat on last. I think that wicket could have been real ordinary last. The difference between yesterday and today with those cracks. They were open a long way today. If we had have bowled them out a lot cheaper, we could have been one fifty two hundred ahead, and I would have backed us from there.”The positive thing for us is that after four games we are still on top of the points. During the course of a year you are going to have some bad games some where along the line. I think generally no-one has 10 bad games in a season and the statistics prove you are going to have one bad game here and there. I think we can put this one down as a bad game. As long as we move on. We have South Australia Friday in Melbourne. We have played two games in Melbourne and won two. We’re pretty tough to beat at home.”We are in a pretty good position. The sign of a good team is if they bounce back. It is very important that in this next game we commit and do the things we have not been doing well. There were some good signs. I think our intent and our urgency in our second innings was OK. At none for eighty we were going along quite well. Then we lost a couple of wickets in a row and that put us on the back foot.”I thought Graeme Rummans and Michael Klinger showed a bit today. A couple of good thirties. We just need to have one or two of those guys go and get a big score. Jason Arnberger’s form continued. He looked very good at the crease and in this whole match, he looks very relaxed calm. He has made 500 runs for the year.”To lose someone like Matthew Elliott, Shane Harwood, Ian Harvey and Matthew Inness all pretty major players for Victoria it is a big loss. But having said that, it is a good opertunity for some other guys.”It all comes down to basics. If you do the basics better than the opposition then generally you are going to win most games.”Hookes: “I just want to say John [Townsend] I am pretty pissed off with your article in today’s paper. Accusing our players of saying something about Ryan Campbell and batting style. As I understand it you overheard a couple of our players talking on stump cam. Thats a pretty ordinary way of getting a bit of information. I think you owe the players and I have apologized to Ryan already, I think you owe him and apology too.””We batted piss-hole today. It matched the first innings. Warnie [Shane Warne] summed it up pretty well. We are a side trying to go forward. We played four games, four outrights, two wins and two losses. The losses have been very poor and both have been away. So thats a worrying trend. It might be like the dockers.”It is something that we are crystal clear in what is happening. I am not sure we have the ability to change it overnight. At least we are aware, at least the players are understanding of the learning process we are trying to go through. We will get through it, it is just a matter of how quickly we will get through it.”When you consider no Elliott and no Harwood as well. You are probably foureleventh of your side out. It still seems pretty unfair that the game wasbrought forward. The lack of time and space between games for us. Nothing to do with the Test players being available, I think thats great to be able to bowl Robert Cassell and Will Carr to Marto [Damien Martyn] and Gilly [Adam Gilchrist] I think that is excellent for them.”We have some different set plays that we use in one-day cricket and four-day cricket. The set play got two wickets for us yesterday. It is an awareness thing for the players. If the other team is getting away from us if we can do some certain things that are set, it is positive for the players that are out on the field.”Hogg: “It is always good to play with the Australian boys when they come back. They have a presence about them. The team always lifts when they are around and enjoys their company. It was good to have them back, and it was good to be able to perform with them here.”We got off to a good start. When we get off to a good start we generally do well. Hopefully that will continue for the rest of the season. If we keep playing like this we could take out a final.”I have been pretty happy with my batting. I think I have under-performed in my career, hopefully it continues as it is going now.”He [Adam Gilchrist] is one of the legends of the game at the moment. It isalways good to have someone like that coming back. He is Vice Captain ofAustralia, he has led Australia at times. It just helps the boys. It probably gives a bit for Huss [Michael Hussey] when he takes over when the boys aren’t here.”You always want to be in the hunt to play cricket for Australia, whether it is to play one day cricket or Test cricket. If you keep playing for the Warriors and are performing well, doing your bit for the team, the rest will look after itself. If Test or One-Day selection come, they come. I am proud of what I have achieved in the past. If Test selection happens again I will be more than ready for it.”Wilson: “Obviously I was pretty lucky. It was my day today. All the bowlersbowled well. I was just lucky to get the wickets today. It is pleasing from the point of view that I have just changed states. Hopefully for me it is just a great start. For me personally it has been great just to play with Adam [Gilchrist]. We have known each other for years since we played in Country New South Wales. To be able to play my first game for WA with Adam has added a little touch to it as well. Hopefully we can play like this for the whole season, which means we can be pretty successful.”The best thing about being a part of this side, everyone has great input and advice in certain situations in the game. Everyone is looking out and looking ahead to see what can be done differently.”The ball has been coming out pretty well all year, even in club stuff. Last time I took five wickets here for South Australia we lost. The best thing is that this time we comprehensively won. Whether you take two wickets or six, it doesn’t matter so long as your team is winning.”The body is pretty good at the moment, it is always pretty ugly, but at least it is running in and doing the things I want it to do.”I thought today I didn’t bowl as well as on the first day. You are always looking for areas for improvement. If you think you have got it right, you are in trouble next time you bowl. You are only as good as your next game and that’s what I am looking forward to.Gilchrist: “It was close to perfect. It was an outstanding performance by the bowlers in those conditions. Day one the toss was fifty fifty as to which way we wanted to go, so I was pretty happy to lose it. Then to come out and execute their plan so well, it was outstanding. Throughout both of their innings.”I thought of McGrath and Gillespie and Co. in Brisbane and how ruthless they were with their line and length. These guys were just as good as that, just as consistent.”What Justin [Langer] Marto [Damien Martyn] and myself tried to bring back into this game was the enjoyment, a lot of pride in playing for the state. To show that we were keen to play. Certainly the enjoyment and the right attitude. That’s probably a bit of a catch word we have tried to have filtered into our squad is having a good attitude. We all know what that kind of attitude is like to be successful. We are just trying to make sure that we replicate that day in and day out. I think we were outstanding in that capacity in this game.”You always take a day off when it comes around. I am thrilled with what I have gotten out of this match. Some runs , some catches and generally a goodworkout. In this busy schedule it is always nice to get that little bit of free time.”I guess that’s the way you want it. You want some guys to be unlucky to be left out not lucky to be getting a game. Selection for this match was a bit of a nightmare, it was a bit of a tough decision with regards to who we had to leave out from the batting line up. It is going to focus more on the bowling. The selectors are going to have a few nightmares. But that is a healthy situation.”It was an ideal opertunity for guys to play. It is always going to be a touchy issue. This round of games has been handled well. The McGraths, Gillespies and those guys that have a big workload and have the more physical aspect of the game running in trying to bowl quick. I have absolutely no drama with those guys missing it. In an ideal world we’d all play for everything we were available for. We have to monitor on an individual basis a lot of honesty has to come from the player. I think we are heading towards that in regards to the Australian cricket team and it’s management. I think we are heading towards a good honest assessment and that it is done on an individual basis.”What was proven to me at the end of the day was that there are a lot of theories going around but if you have fairly simple plans and execute them well, you are going to do well, no matter whether it is first-class cricket or Test cricket or one-day cricket.”

Ganguly- not complacent Photo CricInfo

India may have drawn first blood against England in their first NatWest encounter at Lord’s on Saturday, but captain Sourav Ganguly is in no mood for complacency as he prepares his team for tomorrow’s day-night match at Chester-le-Street.The India captain is well aware that India lost a 3-1 lead over England at the start of the year, drawing the last one-day series between the two countries.”They played pretty well then,” Ganguly said. “We were in a position where we could have won in Delhi and Bombay – but all credit to them for coming back.”India are level on points with the hosts in the current triangular tournament, although they have a game in hand over both England and Sri Lanka.”I think there is a bit more quality in this [England] side than what we saw in the World Cup,” Ganguly added. “Andrew Flintoff, for example, is turning out to be a good cricketer – something I am happy to see, having played for the same county [Lancashire] as him.”Marcus Trescothick is also a great find for England. They are becoming a good one-day unit, and Nasser is doing well as captain.”India have begun the series impressively, with back-to-back wins over England at Lord’s and then Sri Lanka at The Oval last weekend.”I was not surprised to see the way we played. But this is an early part of the tour; it is just the beginning, and there is a lot of cricket to be played,” Ganguly cautioned.”It is most important we keep up our standards. The way the tournament is going we have a good chance of reaching Lord’s, and if we do I hope we are in the right shape to do well.”India’s squad is fully fit for tomorrow’s match, the only question being whether to recall Harbhajan Singh, who made way for an extra pace bowler at The Oval.

With just 24 hours remaining before an International Cricket Council (ICC)ultimatum, the row over ICC contracts appeared no closer to a solution inSri Lanka as its cricket board claimed it was unable to meet the demands ofits players.The Board of Control for Sri Lanka (BCCSL) is adamant that demands putforward by the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association (SLCA) on behalf of thenational cricketers ahead of next month’s ICC Champions Trophy areunrealistic given the current cash flow situation of the boardThe SLCA demanded 30 percent of guarantee money paid by the ICC to the BCCSLfor hosting the ICC Champions trophy. This was in addition to the monthlypayments the contracted players received.”We are currently not in a position to meet the demands put forward by theCricketers Association because financially it has not been a good year orus,” said a BCCSL spokesman.”I think it unfair by the cricketers to make such a demand. They are tryingto capitalise on a situation. I don’t think they are seriously affected bythe conditions laid down by the ICC,” he said.The BCCSL recently published their statement of accounts which showed adeficit of Rs. 48 million and sources said that with hardly anyinternational cricket being played in Sri Lanka this year, there was barelyany revenue being accrued to meet the demands the players are making.He said whatever revenue the BCCSL receives from the ICC Champions trophyhas to be channelled into the development of the game and basic operationalcosts.Sri Lanka hosted only a two-Test and three-match one-day series againstlowly rated Bangladesh for the current year.The present ICC contract prevents players from endorsing products from rivalcompanies of the ICC’s sponsors 30 days before or after major ICC events,including next year’s World Cup.So far, the 14 Sri Lanka cricketers picked to play in the Champions trophytournament have not signed the ICC contracts.”We don’t see any major confrontation with the SLCA over this issue,” saidthe Cricket Board spokesman.Sri Lanka are due to meet Pakistan in the tournament opener on September 12.All 10 Test playing nations plus two associate member countries areparticipating in the 18-day event which is a forerunner to next year’s WorldCup in South Africa.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) today announced a 13-man squad to play in the Australian Country Cricket Championships in Bundaberg during January.The side sees former South Australian player, Ashley Hammond, take up the captaincy, with batting all-rounder Rob Johnson, vice captain.The SA Outbacks Squad is:

Ashley Hammond (c) (Mid-north)
Rob Johnson (vc) (Mid-north)
Paul Attard (Barrier)
Peter Cameron (Mid-north)
Greg Fiebig (Upper North)
Luke Fitzsimmons (Murray Districts)
Mark Johns (Barrier)
Mark Johnson (Mid-north)
Liam Knight (Eyre Peninsula)
Chad Parrish (Eyre Peninula)
Barry Steele (South East)
Travis Wilton (Murray Districts)
Matt Whitelum (Mid-North)

The SA Outbacks is coached by former Australian and State fast bowler, Jeff Hammond.

BAT Sports must guard against complacency when they face ECB Southern Electric Premier League strugglers Liphook & Ripsley at Southern Gardens tomorrow, 11am.It’s effectively a top versus bottom encounter, with BAT anxious to keep Havant within their sights in the championship race and second-from-bottom Liphook equally eager to pull away from the bottom."It’s paramount we go into the game with the right attitude," says BAT skipper Dave Banks, whose second-placed side have strung together a remarkable sequence of 12 successive all-day `time’ wins."We beat Liphook easily on the opening day of the season, but they won’t want to lose and showed against Portsmouth last week they they don’t buckle easily."In any case, we want to go into next week’s match at Havant – a potential title decider – with 13 straight wins under our belts," he stressed.BAT are without Chris Thomason against Liphook, whereas title rivals Havant could be without key all-rounders Malcolm Hobson and Bevis Moynan for the awkward derby match with Portsmouth at St Helen’s."They ran us very close on the opening day of the season," recalls Havant captain Dominic Carson."To beat Havant would be a real feather in Portsmouth’s cap – and it’s essential we don’t let it happen, particularly at St Helen’s."Third-placed Andover, whose win at Bashley (Rydal) last week rekindled fading title aspirations, entertain South Wilts at London Road.The availability of Jerry Hayward and Mark Miller is in doubt for Andover, but South Wilts, though being without left-arm strike bowler James Tomlinson, have Dorset’s Tim Lamb back to bolster a strong-looking batting line up.Russell Rowe is anxious to bounce back to form after slipping behind BAT’s Damian Shirazi in the Premier League run scoring charts.Rowe, who has been out of nick recently, has scored 352 runs, compared with Shirazi’s 399 haul for BAT, the defending champions.The back problem that affected Matt Swarbrick during Dorset’s recent Minor Counties Championship defeat by Cornwall could rule the Bournemouth skipper out of the ECB Premier Division match with lowly Burridge at Chapel Gate, 11am."I was in a tremendous amount of pain last weekend and batted down the order in our second innings," Swarbrick explained. "I really do not know whether my back will stand up to 120-odd overs tomorrow."If Swarbrick does miss the game, then Martin Miller will skipper the side, with either Andy Bell or Morgan Parkin promoted from Bournemouth promotion chasing Hampshire League side.Tom Webley is set to return from Somerset commitments against a Burridge side that lies bottom of the table, after just win (against Portsmouth) in six matches.Weakened Burridge, without influential opening batsman Neil Cunningham (injured ankle), could be pressed to provide fourth-placed Bournemouth with their first `time’ game win this season.Chris Sketchley and Andy Neal return to a full strength Bashley (Rydal) side against off-colour Calmore Sports at the Bashley Cricket Ground, 11am. The two teams occupy seventh and eighth spots in the Premier 1 table, respectively, and are both in need of a win.Richard Knowles, who hit an unbeaten century in last week’s defeat by Andover, will be expected to continue his good form. But both Neil Thurgood and Luke Ronchi are due a big score.

Matt Finnigan of Ladbrokes previews the First npower Test Match between England & Pakistan at Lord’s.Nasser Hussain’s buoyant England team entertain Pakistan in the First Test at Lord’s this coming Thursday. Confidence in the camp is sky high as England look to build on four successive series victories. The mighty Aussies are to follow these two Tests and England will be looking for a good start to their summer campaign.Ladbrokes make England the 6/4 favourites for the First Test, with Pakistan and the draw both quoted at 7/4. David Graveney has hinted that England may start the Test with seven batsmen and with Dominic Cork already amongst the runs this summer, they have batting right down the order.Take the 6/4 on offer with Ladbrokes for an England victory and the perfect start to the summerThe England first innings top batsman is not so clear-cut especially as the batting line up looks so strong. Nasser Hussain may drop himself down the order, which could see Michael Vaughan moved up to number three. Ian Ward was the most prolific run-scorer on the A tour and is likely to included in at number seven on his Test debut.My advice is to back Michael Vaughan to be first innings top England batsman at 6/1 with LadbrokesPakistan’s first innings top batsman looks slightly easier to predict, Saeed Anwar’s name is on everybody’s lips with an impressive double ton at Canterbury on Sunday, and the Pakistan opener is priced at 3-1 to be top first innings run scorer for Pakistan. The charismatic Inzamam, who has been made vice captain and scored over 1000 Test runs in 2000, can never be ignored.My advice is back Inzamam-Ul-Haq to be 1st innings top Pakistan batsman at 7/2 with Ladbrokes

Saqlain Mushtaq picked up a wicket and scooped up four excellentcatches as PIA beat Karachi Whites by six wickets in the National Oneday Cricket Championship at National Stadium Thursday.The home team, batting first, posted a decent 219 for seven in 50overs. PIA, the former champions, hardly raised a sweat when theyreached the victory target in 38 overs. But the irony was none of theselectors was present at the ground to see Saqlain put up aperformance that was a slap on the face of the people who had droppedhim from the Asian Test Championship final.Wasim Bari, chairman of selectors, came late in the afternoon afterall the action was complete. Mohsin Khan, one of the paid selectors,continued to remain a missing figure as he has been since the start ofthe season.The selectors’ decision not to watch proceedings involving PIA seemsstrange as there are at least four players on whom either there arefitness or form doubts and can walk into the national team anytime.Saqlain was tight and economical as ever conceding 45 runs off his 10overs. But the catches off Fahadullah and Farhan Iqbal, the latter offhis won bowling, reflected how seriously he was taking his cricket andthe improvement he has made in his fielding.Saqlain held a running catch while diving forward at mid-off to endthe innings of Fahadullah and then took a acrobatic catch off his ownbowling to terminate the knock of Farhan Iqbal.Saqlain was not the only PIA player to dominate the show. Wasim Akrambowled his heart out on a placid track and under testing conditionswhile Azhar Mahmood bowled nicely to concede 32 runs off his nineovers.Abdul Razzaq was belted for 59 runs from his nine overs while ShoaibMalik’s 18 deliveries cost him 23 runs. Karachi’s innings wasdominated by two half centuries and a 49 by opener Maisam Hasnain whohit four boundaries in his 81-ball innings. Zeeshan Pervez scored 53but took 102 balls while Mohammad Masroor hit a rapid 46-ball 53 withsix boundaries.PIA, in their target chase, was set an ideal platform when openersGhulam Ali and Faisal Iqbal added 115 for the first wicket. Thepartnership ended when Faisal was out after scoring a 43-ball 38 withfive boundaries. But Ghulam Ali remained punishing, clobbering 10boundaries in his 79-ball 67. Yasir Hameed chipped in with 35 whileskipper Moin Khan finished the match in style by slamming fourboundaries in his nine-ball 19.

Ian Ward made history today by becoming the first Englishman to make a century in the West Indian Busta Cup competition but his efforts were in vain as England A lost vital first innings bonus points to Trinidad and Tobago.His 100 at the Queen’s Park Oval will be remembered not just as an historic first, nor even as a first-class fifth, but as a seven hour and 20 minute vigil against spin that got England A to within eight runs of Trinidad’s first innings total.England A’s last wicket partnership proved to be the most nerve-wracking phase of the match with Ward, the settled experience batsman trying to keep the strike away from Jason Brown, who bats at 11 for good reason.In the hunt for points, their target was 250, but with 242 on the board, the weary Ward went to drive at Ramnarine and the ball just clipped the top of his stumps. While the Trinidadians celebrated wildly, Ward stood still looking at the dislodged bail in total disbelief.His reaction was one of massive disappointment and a realisation that first innings points are vital in this competition. It was a magnificent effort from the Surrey opener who after three A tour innings of 49, 69 and 109, is clearly the man in form.If all remaining matches are as tough as this Trinidad and Tobago encounter, England A may well find themselves renaming this competition the Busta Gut. It has not been the easiest three days in England A’s distinguished history and Ward’s century was all the more noteworthy for that.Afterwards he expressed his deep disappointment at losing his wicket at such a crucial time.”The fact I scored a century was academic in the end. It would be nice to revel in some glory but unfortunately we missed the target we set ourselves which was to win first innings points. But we have to pick our heads up – there is still a bit of cricket in this game and the pitch is deteriorating rapidly.”I sat down with Alex Tudor before we came out after tea and we both agreed it was very much on. He virtually has a Test hundred to his name so he’s no mug with the bat. We were under no illusions how hard it would be but if he played his natural aggressive game we thought we could put the pressure back on Trinidad. It nearly worked but it was just unfortunate we couldn’t carry on.”I was trying to stay there but chose the wrong route and managed to drag the ball onto my stumps which was disappointing. I had a few expletives going on in my head.””I might as well have got nought because we didn’t make the target. Personal goals are all well and good but we failed in our team objective. We always knew this would be a tough competition, playing on foreign soils and travelling around like as circus as we are. They are not excuses, they are facts and we just have to deal with them and realise how important the runs are on these low scoring wickets.”At 123 for six, those first innings points looked unlikely but both Tudor and Paul Franks made valuable contributions with Tudor making 32 and Franks chipping in with for 18, the final four wickets adding 119 runs.Trinidad and Tobago, starting their second innings with a seven run lead, added 25 in the 12 overs that remained of the third day’s play but lost opener Andy Jackson when Tudor had him caught behind for 11.More quick wickets will be needed tomorrow if England A stand any chance of winning and on a deteriorating pitch, the final day’s play is set to be tense.

Shoaib Malik celebrates Photo © AFP

The Pakistan off-spinner Shoaib Malik has been reported by the match referee for a suspect bowling action.The Zimbabwean match referee for the ARY Gold Cup tournament in Sharjah, Justice Ebrahim Ahmed, said in a brief but crisp statement after the final game: “The umpires have reported Shoaib Malik for suspect bowling action and after informing the Pakistan team management I’ll be sending the report to the International Cricket Council.”According to the ICC manual on suspect bowling actions, it is mandatory for the match referee to obtain video footage of the bowler’s action when it is suspected by the umpires of being illegal. The material must then be sent to the ICC.The ICC manual also makes it mandatory for the referee to send two video copies of the suspect bowlers along with his report to the home board, in this case the Pakistan Cricket Board.