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Durham 241 for 5 beat Warwickshire 240 for 5 by five wickets
ScorecardPhil Mustard’s highest one-day score took Durham level on points at the top of group B in the Clydesdale Bank 40 League with a five-wicket win against Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street.The former England one-day wicketkeeper made an unbeaten 129, although Durhamremain behind Surrey, who have two games in hand, by the narrowest of run-rate margins.They passed Warwickshire’s 240 for five with 2.3 overs to spare after Mustard and Michael Di Venuto began the reply with a stand of 110. The Tasmanian reached 50 off only 36 balls, 10 faster than his partner, before he miscued to mid-off in the 16th over.From that point Durham were able to coast along, but a reverse sweep for his 11th four off Chris Metters took Mustard to his hundred off 91 balls. His one six came when he flicked medium-pacer Steffan Piolet over backward square leg.After Warwickshire chose to bat, Will Porterfield again showed his liking for the Durham attack by making 74 off 77 balls. He scored 83 in the Twenty20 clash at Chester-le-Street and 80 as Warwickshire overhauled Durham’s 286 for 3 in the CB40 match at Edgbaston.Porterfield put on 106 for the third wicket with Jim Troughton before they fell in identical fashion to successive balls in the 34th over. A slog-sweep off Gareth Breese, which flew to the boundary in front of square, had taken Porterfield to 50 off 51 balls and Troughton got there two ballsfaster.But when they called their batting powerplay but it was Durham who profited as three wickets went down for seven runs. Porterfield skied a drive back over the bowler Mitch Claydon’s head but Ian Blackwell, on the edge of the circle at mid-off, ran round to hold the catch. Troughton then drove a more straightforward chance to the same fielder to depart for 50.Claydon finished with 3 for 34, having persuaded opener Neil Carter to edge a drive to Mustard during an opening spell in which Graham Onions was also impressively accurate. Onions also returned during the batting powerplay to have Chris Woakes caught behind before Keith Barker hit two sixes in the last two overs in his unbeaten 29 off 20 balls.Durham blotted their copybook by bowling 10 wides, four of them by Liam Plunkett bowled in a four-over spell which cost 29 runs. But it quickly became apparent that they had done well to restrict a strong batting line-up and after taking only a single off each of the first two overs,Mustard and Di Venuto cracked 45 runs off the next four. Despite the loss of five wickets, Mustard always looked in complete command of the situation.

Matthew Maynard, the former England and Glamorgan wicketkeeper-batsman, has been appointed coach of the Titans franchise. Maynard has been contracted for two years and will commence duties on August 15.Maynard played four Tests and 14 ODIs but is better known as a stalwart of Glamorgan, who he represented between 1985 and 2005. He was also part of the administration at Glamorgan but resigned as director of cricket in November last year in the aftermath of a shake-up of the county’s structures.He has previous international coaching experience, having been Duncan Fletcher’s assistant during Fletcher’s time in charge of England between 2004 and 2007. Maynard was linked to the Sri Lankan coaching job before joining the Titans.”Maynard’s appointment as Titans head coach is exciting for the franchise. He has a great pedigree and I am sure will provide outstanding leadership,” Andy O’Connor, chairman of the franchise, said.Maynard came to South Africa as a member of Mike Gatting’s rebel side in the 1989-90 season. He also played with Jacques Kallis in 1999 when Kallis had a stint at Glamorgan.”I look forward to working with a group of players who are skilful and are determined to succeed,” Maynard said. “I hope to create an environment that is challenging and enjoyable and play a style of cricket that is rewarding to both players and spectators alike.”The Titans job became vacant in April when Chris van Noordwyk’s contract was not renewed. van Noordwyk was in charge of the franchise for two seasons, during which the Titans did not win a single title. It is understood that 16 candidates applied for the job of Titans coach, including South Africa fitness trainer Rob Walter.

ScorecardSouth Group leaders Sussex Sharks slumped to a last-ball Friends Life t20 defeat against Glamorgan Dragons at Cardiff.The Sharks were set 138 to win and at 78 without loss off 11 overs looked well set to seal their sixth win in eight games. But Glamorgan, who surprisingly gave part-time spinner Gareth Rees the second over from which 16 runs came, fought back to take four key wickets, including Ben Brown (42 off 38 balls) bowled by Simon Jones and Sussex captain Murray Goodwin bowled by Dean Cosker, attempting a reverse sweep.With six overs remaining Sussex, who were without Luke Wright and Matt Prior, were left with 45 to get, but gradually Glamorgan, especially through Jim Allenby and Graham Wagg, started turning the screw on a slow Cardiff wicket.Luke Wells went bowled by a Wagg yorker leaving Sussex needing 19 from the final 12 balls. Opener Chris Nash, who made an unbeaten 64, and Rana Naved were left with 13 from the last six balls, which turned out to be five from the final ball.Nash looked as if he might have hit a boundary from Wagg’s final ball of the match, which would have tied the match, but a good piece of fielding from skipper Alviro Petersen on the boundary restricted the Sharks to just two.The narrow two-run victory has re-ignited Glamorgan’s hopes of reaching the last eight. After winning the toss the Dragons were restricted to 137 for 3 in their 20 overs on a sluggish pitch, and in a bid to negate the big-hitting Mark Cosgrove the Sharks opened with both spinners with mixed results.The first over from Ollie Rayner produced just the one run but the next from Monty Panesar disappeared for 16, including a six over long-on from Cosgrove. But that was a rare expensive over from the Sussex attack which included Pakistan paceman Umar Gul for the first time.Panesar had some revenge when he bowled Cosgrove in the eighth over, but in his next Rees struck the former England slow left-armer for two fours. Glamorgan’s innings was given some real impetus with two sixes from Petersen off an over from Rayner before Gul trapped Rees leg before.Sussex were boosted that they had Gul and Naved to bowl the last five overs between them with Glamorgan struggling to deal with yorker deliveries and reverse swing. Only 33 runs came in those five overs including the wicket of Petersen who holed out at long on but in the end Glamorgan’s total proved just enough.

UAE and Namibia have been selected to join the top six Associate and Affiliate nations in the next edition of the Intercontinental Cup. They were picked based on their performances in World Cricket League Division Two, where they finished in the top four, and take the first-class tournament back to its previous structure of eight teams.Afghanistan, the defending champions, Ireland, Scotland, Kenya, Canada and Netherlands are the top six sides involved in the event which will run over a 28-month time frame from June 2011 until October 2013. Afghanistan begin the defence of their title with an away fixture against Canada.The expanded Intercontinental Cup means an end to the Shield tournament which was introduced last season to try and provide a pathway for other emerging teams. However, the development committee decided the best structure was to expand the main tournament. The committee also announced the introduction of a 50-over tournament to run alongside the Intercontinental Cup.The winners of the four-day tournament will receive $100,000 with $40,000 for second place from a total prize fund of $254,000. Ireland are the most successful side in the tournament’s history having secured a hat-trick of titles from 2005 to 2007-08.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the fourth one-day international against Pakistan. Sarwan had been one of three senior batsmen dropped following the World Cup, but after some insipid batting which has seen West Indies fall 3-0 behind in the five-match series the selectors have decided experience is required. The squad for the final one-dayer has not yet been announced.Sarwan replaces opener Devon Smith, who has had a nightmare of a series, falling lbw to Mohammad Hafeez’s offspin three times, but he is most likely to slot into the middle order which has struggled in the three games to date. Marlon Samuels, who has returned to international cricket, and Kirk Edwards have both laboured against Pakistan’s spin bowling and brought scoring to a standstill.Sarwan, who has played 166 one-day internationals, scored 155 runs at 25.83 during the World Cup, and along with Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is currently involved in a war of words with the WICB, was left out after Ottis Gibson, the coach, criticised the performances of senior players.His return will appease officials in Guyana, Sarwan’s home country, who had been angered by his and Chanderpaul’s snub. The final one-day international of the series, and the first Test, will be played at Providence. However, due to West Indies’ domestic season having finished, Sarwan hasn’t had any chance to find form in the middle.Despite having already lost the series there are no further changes to the squad for the fourth match. There were a few bright spots during the third match in Barbados as Ravi Rampaul and Devendra Bishoo almost pulled the game around for West Indies with some impressive bowling. However, the home side just haven’t been able to score enough runs. Sarwan will hope to change that.Squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons

Scorecard
James Foster and Matt Walker put together a thrilling unbeaten century stand tocarry Essex to a superb seven-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire in theirClydesdale Bank 40 clash at Chelmsford.Replying to a total of 287 for 7, Essex reached their objective with anover to spare as Foster and Walker shared in a partnership of 108 in 10.3overs.Foster plundered 66 from 44 balls, with the help of seven fours and astraight-driven six against Ben Phillips that sealed victory.Walker contributed 45 from 26 deliveries, with the aid of seven boundaries.The efforts of the third-wicket pair came after Alastair Cook had provided apersuasive argument for being included in England’s side in the longer versionof the limited-overs format.Cook has made no secret of the fact that he was disappointed to beleft out of the recent World Cup squad and pressed his claims with a fine 96from 102 deliveries. His innings included 13 fours, and it was while seeking his 14th with aleg-side pull that he was bowled by Luke Fletcher.Most of Cook’s runs came during a second-wicket stand of 110 in 18 overs withRavi Bopara, another player hoping to win the nod from England’s selectors.Bopara did his cause no harm at all by making 50 from 39 balls, an effort thatcontained three sixes in addition to a couple of fours.His innings was brought to an end by spinner Samit Patel as Neil Edwards took acatch in front of the sidescreen.The assault from the Essex batsmen came after Notts opener Alex Hales had puttogether a punishing 116 to carry the visitors to their formidable total. He scored those runs from 101 balls, and on the way laced his innings with adozen fours and three sixes before he skied a catch to Adam Wheater in thecovers.Hales had earlier taken part in a partnership of 124 in 17 overs with Patel,whose 69 from 51 deliveries included 12 boundaries. While they were together, Notts had looked set to post a much more imposingtotal after reaching 150 at the halfway stage.But they were pegged back by left-arm spinner Tim Phillips, who conceded just34 in his seven overs. Bopara, with his medium pace, also played a part in putting the breaks on, with figures of two for 40 in eight overs.Lonwabo Tsotsobe had the satisfaction of claiming the wicket of Hales and laterthat of Chris Read. But the South African’s line and length left much to be desired as he conceded73 in his eight overs.

Andre Nel, the former South Africa fast bowler, has left Surrey by mutual consent.Nel had one year remaining on his contract but both sides have agreed to end the deal prematurely. Nel, 33 claimed 76 wickets in all competitions during two injury-marred seasons with Surrey but is now looking for a new club.”Whenever Andre was on the pitch for Surrey we never received anything less than 100 percent from him,” Chris Adams, the Surrey coach, told the club’s website.”Sadly, those times were not as frequent as we all would have liked and the agreement that has been reached is beneficial to us all. He was a huge character both on and off the field and we wish him the very best for the future.”Nel, who has Kolpak status and therefore does not count as an overseas player in English domestic cricket, is keen to find a new county to continue his career with. “I enjoyed my time at Surrey and whilst it’s a shame to not be returning, I know I still have a lot to give and hope to return and terrorise some more county batsmen soon.”

South Zone

Tamil Nadu saw off a spirited fightback by Andhra’s lower order to complete a 24-run win at the Perintalmanna Cricket Stadium in Malappuram. S Badrinath’s 99 and R Sathish’s 76 had helped Tamil Nadu reach 300, and the seamers then took early wickets, reducing Andhra to 116 for 6. Vemu Lenin, who made 65 not out, and Andhra’s tail made a fight of it, but Tamil Nadu always looked in control. Badrinath and Sathish had taken the game away from Andhra with their sixth-wicket partnership of 129 off 90 balls. Sathish’ 76 came off just 53 balls. Seamer Sunil Sam did the early damage for Tamil Nadu, taking three wickets, before the lower order battled. Andhra were finally bowled out for 276 in the final over.Goa’s spinners were all over Hyderabad at the Fort Maidan in Palakkad, leading their team to a seven-wicket win. Amit Yadav, Shadab Jakati, Dhiraj Narvekar and Sher Yadav took eight wickets between them – the other two were run-outs – as Hyderabad were bowled out for 158. After a solid start, Hyderabad collapsed from 54 for 0, with Amit Yadav the most successful of the spinners, taking 3 for 22. Goa lost some early wickets in their chase, but Rohit Asnodkar made sure there were no further hiccups, scoring and unbeaten74 off 85 balls, as his team eased home in 39.5 overs.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has said the delay in naming the captain of the World Cup squad has led to the creation of factions within the national side.Currently Misbah-ul-Haq, who has seven half-centuries in his previous seven international innings, is the captain of the Test side while Shahid Afridi has led the limited-over teams over the past year. Under Misbah’s charge, Pakistan drew a Test series against South Africa in UAE, in November, before winning the two-Test series in New Zealand. Afridi returned to the helm for the ongoing one-day series, with Misbah as his deputy, and Pakistan were thrashed by nine wickets in the first game, by a New Zealand side that was on a 11-match losing streak.In the meantime, the selectors finalised their World Cup squad, but did not name the captain, making Pakistan the only team that is yet to identify its leader for the event.Inzamam said the uncertainty was hurting Pakistan’s preparations. “With only three weeks left to the World Cup, Pakistan have no captain and the blame goes to the PCB for creating an impasse which has divided the team into two groups, supporting Afridi and Misbah,” Inzamam said. “In this scenario one cannot have high expectations for the team.”Inzamam was in charge of Pakistan during their disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign, which ended with a first-round exit after a loss to Ireland, which was followed by the sudden death of their coach Bob Woolmer.”The PCB has failed to control the situation and if Pakistan fares badly in the World Cup, people will accuse the players and not the board.”The selection of the Pakistan’s 15-man squad without consulting coach Waqar Younis or the captain also came in for criticism from Inzamam. “When a team is without a captain how can a proper strategy be made? The team is playing a one-day series in New Zealand but they do not know who will be their captain in the World Cup which is very damaging.”

Mark Sorell has become the second state coach in a week to step down after being told his contract with South Australia would not be extended at the end of the season. The move comes as Darren Lehmann, the former Redbacks captain, has agreed to link with Queensland for the Big Bash after Trevor Barsby’s sudden exit last Wednesday.The flurry of in-season movement is extremely unusual in Australia and while Barsby was the victim of player power, Sorell’s time ran out to lift the perennially underperforming South Australia. The SACA board decided on Monday night that Sorell’s fourth season in charge would be his last.Jamie Cox, South Australia’s director of cricket, told Sorell, 45, the news on Tuesday morning. “He has consequently stepped down as coach of the Redbacks, effective immediately,” Cox said. Jeff Vaughan, the assistant, will take over for South Australia’s one-day and Sheffield Shield games against Victoria this week.”I would like to make it very clear that this outcome was initiated by management and the board and not by the playing group,” Cox said. “The players have, however, been consulted and understand the reasons for the decision.”In Queensland, Lehmann will start coaching the Twenty20 side next week to prepare for its opening match against Victoria on January 2. Lehmann, who looks after the Deccan Chargers in the IPL, steps in at a difficult time for the Bulls after Barsby’s departure.Graham Dixon, Queensland’s chief executive, said Lehmann would provide the side with an experienced Twenty20 hand. “Darren’s earned a reputation as an innovative coach in the IPL and with his extensive international playing and coaching experience, we are confident he will further assist the development of our promising young squad,” Dixon said. Justin Sternes will look after the Bulls in the Shield and one-day competitions for the rest of the season.