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A bad week for Zimbabwe Cricket grew worse with a threat from Themba Mliswa, the controversial Zimbabwean political activist, that he was set to challenge Peter Chingoka, the board’s chairman, and Ozias Bvute, the managing director, with the support of the country’s “highest authorities”. The board were already reeling from the resignations of Crispen Tsvarai and Bruce Makovah and will be further alarmed by this latest development.Mliswa, who has a chequered career, was the man widely considered responsible for driving Tatenda Taibu into retirement last year. After seeming to ingratiate himself with the Chingoka-led interim executive, it seems that, as Cricinfo exclusively reported last month, he had a major falling out with the executive’s top brass.Mliswa, heading a group calling itself “Black Pioneers stakeholders”, addressed a media conference at a Harare hotel this afternoon, repeating virtually the same allegations that have been raised against the ZC bosses by players and disgruntled stakeholders over the past two years. But this time, Mliswa vowed to finally deal with the alleged maladministration and corruption by the ZC top brass.”These individuals are holding Zimbabwe cricket to ransom,” Mliswa said. “They are killing the game for what are evidently selfish ends. They are directly responsible for the rampant corruption, mismanagement and outright criminal activity that has become the order of the day.We have confidence in the authorities and powers that be in this country that they will deal with this decisively now.”He was sitting alongside Makovah, the former convener of selectors who resigned earlier this week after a fall-out with the country’s board. “I resigned because there were serious lack of transparency”, Makovah said, adding another reason was the decision by Chingoka and Bvute to allow Kevin Curran, the coach, to dictate selection matters.Mliswa also revealed he had held discussions with Taibu and now claimed to be on talking terms with him. “I admit to be one of the people who had a go at him, but I never threatened him,” he insisted. “I tried to talk to him as a brother. Tatenda is a Zimbabwean. He wants to play for his country… but in the best environment with the best adminstrators”.He also said he had met some of the old provincial chairmen, although he evaded he said he was independent of the former administrators.

Nadeem Malik, 22, has signed a three year contract with Worcestershire which will keep him at the county until 2008. Malik joined Worcestershire in 2004 from Nottinghamshire, and in his first season he took 24 wickets and has so far taken 36 this season.Head coach of Worcestershire and former England wicketkeeper, Steve Rhodes, was delighted to secure Malik’s services: “Nadeem is a talented young bowler with the ability to be selected for the National Academy. To secure the services of such a young talent shows how committed the club is to developing young English players.”Malik himself was delighted to be staying with Worcestershire. “I have really enjoyed the last two years at the club and have been pleased with my progress so far. Over the next three years I want to help the club be successful.”

Ireland 204 for 5 (Molins 47, Watson 3-32) beat Scotland 200 for 6 (Watson 88*) by 5 wickets at Deventer
A five-wicket defeat to Ireland at Deventer has left Scotland with no chance of winning the ECC championship. Scotland batted first and scored a competitive 200 for 6, thanks mainly to a superb 88 not out from the Zimbabwean-born Ryan Watson, who also chipped in with three wickets, but Ireland cantered home by five wickets with three overs to spare.Jason Molins and Jeremy Bray got Ireland’s run chase off to an excellent start, capitalising on some wayward bowling in an 81-run opening stand. Watson made the breakthrough, having Bray caught behind by Colin Smith for 39, and instigated a mini-collapse that temporarily put the match in the balance. Andre Botha departed for 6, also to Watson, and Molins was out in the next over with no addition to the score, bowled by Greig Williamson (93 for 3).However, Andrew White and Peter Gillespie then laid to rest any hopes of an Scottish fightback, adding 87 as the bowlers, Watson and Gregor Maiden apart, failed to maintain any pressure. Watson again broke the partnership, when Dewald Nel caught Gillespie for 32 (180 for 4), but by then the result of the game was already assured.White fell just before the victory came, stumped by Smith off Maiden for 43, but Kyle McCallan (18*) and Trent Johnston (2*) guided Ireland home without any further problems.Earlier, Scotland had made a solid start, with Bruce Patterson and Maiden putting on 44 for the first wicket before Maiden was bowled by Gordon Cooke for 13. Then followed two needless run outs, as first Colin Smith (3), and then Patterson (40), gave away their wickets (100 for 3).White then ripped through the middle order with three quick wickets as Scotland stumbled to 151 for 6, but he had his fair share of luck, as the ball that dismissed Dom Rigby lbw turned far too much to hit the stumps.At the other end Watson was still batting fluently though, racing past his half-century, and he had some good support from Williamson in the final overs. However, Scotland were left ruing their soft dismissals, and inaccurate bowling, as Ireland raced home without ever really being tested.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club has awarded Tom Moody a Testimonial Year in 2004.World Cup winner on two occasions with Australia in 1987 and 1999, Moody has been with Worcestershire since 1991 as both a Player and Director of Cricket. As a Player he enjoyed much success with the County including scoring 25 first class centuries. He captained the County from 1995 until 1999 and scored a thousand runs in a season on four occasions. He was a key Member of the team that won both the B & H Cup in 1991 and the NatWest Trophy in 1994.In 2001 the Club appointed him to the new position of Director of Cricket. Over the last three seasons Moody has overseen a transformation in the County’s cricket fortunes including an overhaul of the Worcestershire CCC Academy which is already producing a fine crop of young players.Upon receiving the news, Tom Moody said “I am honoured the Club has awarded me a Testimonial Year. It has been a privilege to have been involved with the County since 1991 as a Player and now the Director of Cricket.”

All five of New Zealand’s One-Day Internationals with England in February will be day/night matches.Originally no decision had been made on whether games in Auckland and Wellington would be day or day/night games.New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said today that consultations with Auckland Cricket and Cricket Wellington had resulted in the decision to make both games day/night matches.”The reasoning is that a day/night game allows spectators more flexibility in their travelling arrangements and the changing environment adds to the excitement of the match,” he said.The matches are: (reserve days will be day games): Wednesday, February 13, Jade Stadium, Christchurch; Saturday, Feb 16, WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington; Wednesday, Feb 20, McLean Park, Napier; Saturday, Feb 23, Eden Park, Auckland; Tuesday, Feb 26, Carisbrook, Dunedin.

ICC chief executive David Richardson and head of global development Tim Anderson will lead a town hall meeting in Chicago on Saturday as part of the ICC’s efforts to engage stakeholders and bring disparate factions together in the wake of USACA’s suspension at the ICC annual conference in June.Anderson was one of several ICC representatives who arrived in Chicago on Thursday night and said he hoped the meeting will encourage open dialogue. Richardson was expected to spend part of the meeting directly discussing the background to USACA’s suspension and Anderson hoped a Q & A session between ICC staff and stakeholders may unlock solutions to some of the problems that have plagued US cricket in recent years.”The key focus for us for the day is that we’re looking to kick off the strategy development process and we want to talk to the stakeholders and leagues about what they think are the most important cricketing aspects of the game in this country moving forward,” Anderson told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday. Prior to the meeting, the ICC sent out a survey to select stakeholders last week to find out what areas of concern were the highest priorities for them, ranking a list of wide-ranging topics from lowest to highest in terms of importance. The survey data will be used for discussion sessions during the meeting.”They are relatively simple questions around areas of key interest within US cricket, cricket related issues and trying to get a sense from the community as to priorities and perhaps why some things have worked and why some things haven’t,” Anderson said. “Junior development, women’s cricket, fundraising, performance of teams are all key issues and we’re trying to get an understanding of what the community feels about all of those things.”Anderson said that 80 leagues from around the country had received direct invitations to participate in the meeting, which will take place beginning at 9:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at O’Hare International Airport in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont. He said although the ICC expected most of the attendees to be league representatives, the meeting was open to all cricket stakeholders and anyone was encouraged to come and participate in the various dialogues taking place throughout the day.”One of the key things that we want to be as much as possible during this whole process and during the day on Saturday is as open and transparent as we can be,” Anderson said. “Even though we invited some specific people, it’s actually an open meeting. Anyone can come but we invited the people that we really wanted to be there, the league representatives. In terms of the stakeholders we thought were most important, the leagues we thought were most important so the large majority of invitations were sent to the leagues.”The political affiliations within the US cricket system aren’t of interest to us in this process. We’ve invited leagues aligned to USACA, aligned ACF, aligned to both and neither. So we anticipate a really diverse spread of people to attend. Our local advisory group will also attend and at this point we anticipate 70 or 80 people to attend. If we are able to get 70-80 people in the room from a wide diverse landscape of US cricket, we think that would be a really positive thing.”For anyone unable to attend Saturday’s town hall meeting, Anderson said that he did not envision this to be the last opportunity for stakeholders to interact with the ICC staff or the ICC’s local advisory group during the strategy development process.”We obviously got a good sense during the review group process that domestic cricket in the USA is very disconnected and we want to try to help the community rectify that situation,” Anderson said. “We might open the survey up again after the meeting to a wider group of people to get their feedback as well. We want to try to connect with as many people as we can.”

Jesse Ryder’s third successive half-century of the tournament capped off a dominating batting performance by Central Districts as they beat Wellington by 55 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in North Palmerston. Their third win in five matches put them behind table-toppers Canterbury on the points table.Ryder’s 74-ball 83 was one of three half-centuries for Central Districts as they posted 324 for 7 after being sent in to bat. That he had a platform set when he came out to bat at No. 3 was courtesy George Worker (64) and Ben Smith (57), who put on 112. The next highest stand of the innings was 74 for the third wicket between Ryder and Will Young, who made 34 to pave the way for a strong finish.Michael Pollard and Michael Papps, the Wellington openers, started slowly by adding 61 in 13.5 overs, but the loss of three quick wickets further slowed their progress. Wellington had moved on to 141 for 4 in 29.1 overs when rain forced an end to proceedings, with Central Districts well ahead by the D/L method.Neil Broom’s unbeaten 124 was the standout in a low-scoring thriller, which Otago won by three runs in Whangarei to register their first victory in the competition. Otago’s 298 for 6 nearly didn’t prove enough as Anton Devcich and BJ Watling led Northern Districts‘ fightback with 81 and 56 respectively. When Devcich was dismissed, Northern Districts still needed 96 off 62 balls.Watling and Daryl Mitchell (31) kept them in a hunt with a 55-run stand off just 38 balls, but their dismissal in the space of 13 deliveries pulled the plug on their chase. With four losses in five matches, Northern Districts are currently at the bottom in the league standings.

Ottis Gibson continued his age-defying season with 7 for 46 as Durham and Worcestershire traded blows at Chester-le-Street. Seventeen wickets fell in the day, but thanks to half-centuries from Michael Di Venuto (50), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (54) and Gordon Muchall (62 not out) , Durham edged into the lead as Gareth Batty grabbed five. Worcestershire were in early trouble against Gibson and slumped to 50 for 4. Graeme Hick (64) and Steven Davies (26) added 60 before Paul Wiseman broke Gibson’s monopoly on wickets. But Gibson was soon back into it, ending Hick’s counter-attacking 65-ball innings. Nadeem Malik began Worcestershire’s fightback, but the key wickets fell to Batty. Any runs that Muchall and the tail can add in the morning could prove vital.Glen Chapple revived Lancashire with a rapid 88 at Canterbury after Kent threatened to take a significant lead. Lancashire slipped from 127 for 1 to 179 for 5 before Chapple joined Stuart Law (66) in a sixth-wicket stand of 118. Chapple dominated by clubbing five sixes and 10 fours in his 81-ball innings, a season-best for the allrounder. With a century in sight he was bowled by Martin Saggers, who led Kent’s attack with 4 for 43 off 25 overs, and two further wickets leaves the game shaping as a one-innings contest.

Stephen Fleming struck his third century of the season as Nottinghamshire enjoyed a profitable first day against Middlesex at Lord’s. He reached his hundred off 142 balls and added 188 with Mark Wagh, who struck 92 before falling to Tim Murtagh. Middlesex’s bowlers stuck to their task and fought back as Nottinghamshire went from 245 for 2 to 346 for 7 either side of tea. However, Chris Read’s jaunty 47 held the lower order together and guided his side towards 400.

Division One

Second day
Mushtaq Ahmed took his 11th five-wicket haul of the summer, also giving him 10 wickets in the match, as Sussex edged closer to the Championship title on the second day against Kent at Canterbury. Although Sussex were quickly dismissed for 289, to gain a slender 41-run lead, Kent’s batsmen once again fell victim to Mushtaq’s wile. Matthew Walker anchored the sinking ship with 66, spending over three hours at the crease, while Darren Stevens batted aggressively in his 54. However, Kent’s lead only amounts to 138 with two days (and two wickets) remaining.First day
Nick Compton became the 20th batsman to carry his bat for Middlesex who were torn apart by Charlie Shreck, who claimed a hat-trick on the first day against Nottinghamshire at Lord’s. Shreck was given excellent support by his team-mates, with lively fielding and some sharp catches held. After losing Ben Hutton, Owais Shah and Compton batted attractively, although Shah was reprieved – dropped by Mark Ealham at second slip. But Paul Franks trapped Shah leg-before for 28 shortly afterwards. Then came Shreck. He’d removed Ed Smith with the last ball of an over, then bowled Eoin Morgan who attempted rather ambitious drive first ball; Paul Weekes was the hat-trick, his stumps destroyed. He didn’t stop there, as Nash fell in the same over handing a straightforward catch to David Hussey in the slips. Four wickets in six balls. Compton was defiant, however, finishing on 105 as Middlesex were bowled out for 230. In reply, Nottinghamshire moved to 120 for 2, with Will Smith unbeaten on 54.

Division Two

Two contrasting hundreds from Phil Weston and Craig Spearman led the way for Gloucestershire, who reached 385 for 7 on the opening day against Surrey at Bristol. Although it was arguably Gloucestershire’s day with the bat, Surrey were confirmed Division Two champions at exactly 17.10 with the fall of the sixth Gloucestershire wicket – Steve Adshead bowled by Nayan Doshi – to hand them the required two points. It was Spearman who took the attack to Surrey, smashing a 98-ball hundred to put on 154 for the opening wicket with Weston (130). Hamish Marshall took up the attack, clobbering a run-a-ball 56, but Gloucestershire’s middle-order collapsed from 316 for 2 to 285 for 7.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Upul Tharanga grasped a prime opportunity to stake a long-term claim for a regular position in Sri Lanka’s top order with a fine 105 against Bangladesh at a depressingly empty Premadasa International Stadium. Tharanga laid the foundation for an imposing total and then Tillakaratne Dilshan starred with the ball as Sri Lanka cruised to a series-clinching 75-run victory.Young contenders dream of being given a chance against such threadbare bowling attacks, but the trick is to cash-in, which Tharanga has now done twice in successive matches. Once again, he was the fortunate beneficiary of some sloppy Bangladesh catching, as Manjural Islam Rana grassed a regulation slip chance when he was on just 13, but he also batted impressively with a composure and focus that hinted at a real future.Bangladesh will certainly have grown sick of him after a string of scores that reads 104 (for Sri Lanka President’s XI), 60 and 105. Sanath Jayasuriya is rarely overshadowed with the bat, but Tharanga outscored him early-on, racing to his fifty off just 44 balls, driving beautifully through the covers. Sri Lanka piled on the runs in the first five-over power play, adding 51 runs to reach the 15-over mark with 100 runs already in the bank.Bangladesh badly missed their key strike bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been struggling with back spasms, although Syed Rasel, a left-armer, bowled steadily for the second consecutive match. But the visitors, thanks mainly to their spin twins, Mohammad Rafique (2 for 47) and Manjural Islam Rana (2 for 37), did still manage to disrupt the run fest during the middle overs after Jayasuriya flashed a catch to Khaled Mashud behind the stumps having made 40 from 45 balls.Sri Lanka’s surprise decision to promote Dilshan to the No. 3 slot, ahead of in-form batsmen and potential pinch-hitters, backfired badly as the momentum of the innings was checked. Moreover, his shaky confidence will have not been buoyed by a laboured 27 from 59 balls. Sri Lanka, who before the game had stressed a desire to capitalise on the fielding restrictions, wasted the second power play, scoring just 19 runs between the 15th and 20th over.Tharanga also slowed after reaching his fifty and the innings only perked up after the arrival of Marvan Atapattu, who batted fluently for his 53 from 43 balls and raised the tempo with Kumar Sangakkara (28) and Mahela Jayawardene (24 from 18 balls) in the final overs.Realistically, Bangladesh’s task was hopeless. No side has successfully chased such a large total at Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s one-day home, and their innings was all about salvaging some respect after a dismal performance in the opening game that had left the coach having stern-faced one-to-one post mortems late into Wednesday night.And Dav Whatmore’s sessions appeared to have worked as the top order showed a far higher level of application. Shahriar Nafees was especially impressive with his gritty 51 from 83 balls, once again displaying the swagger of someone capable of cutting it at the top level. His efforts were supported by Mohammad Ashraful (31), Habibul Bashar (41 not out) and Tushar Imran (31).But Bangladesh were always well behind the pace and when, belatedly, they did try and step on the gas, Dilshan snapped up three scalps with his useful off breaks.Earlier, Bangladesh bolstered their seam attack, dropping Khaled Mahmud who was substituted after just first overs at the SSC and calling up Nazmul Hossain. Sri Lanka also made a change, resting Farveez Maharoof as a precautionary measure because of his recent hamstring tweak and including Dilhara Lokuhettige.How they were outSri LankaSanath Jayasuriya c Mashud b Hossain 40 (100 for 1)
Tillakaratne Dilshan c Omar b Rafique 27 (171 for 2)
Upul Tharanga st Mashud b Rana 105 (194 for 3)
Kumar Sangakkara c Rana b Rafique 28 (245 for 4)
Dilhara Lokuhettige lbw b Rasel 2 (252 for 5)
BangladeshJaved Omar c Atapattu b Vaas 18 (38 for 1)
Aftab Ahmed b Muralitharan 18 (77 for 2)
Shariar Nafees c Muralitharan b Dilshan 51 (122 for 3)
Mohammed Rafique c & b Dilshan 9 (137 for 4)
Mohammed Ashraful b Dilshan 31 (140 for 5)
Tushar Imran b Lokuhettige 31 (211 for 6)