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ScorecardFile photo: Paras Dogra drilled 14 fours and seven sixes during his unbeaten 174•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Paras Dogra’s third consecutive hundred-plus score lifted Himachal Pradesh to a dominant 352 for 4 on the first day against Services in Dharamsala. Dogra, who hit 167 and 209* in his last two matches, helped his team recover from a shaky start by batting for 75 overs to make a brisk 174, with 14 fours and seven sixes. Dogra first added 59 for the fourth wicket with Robin Bist, before combining with Nikhil Gangta for an unbroken fifth-wicket association which yielded 203 runs. Gangta was unbeaten on 93 when stumps were called. Diwesh Pathania took 3 for 66 for Services.
ScorecardHalf-centuries from Rohan Prem and Sachin Baby helped Kerala recover from a slow start against Tripura in Malappuram to post 223 for 4. Kerala, after choosing to bat, stumbled to 36 for 3 inside 19 overs. However, Prem and Baby counterattacked by putting together 137 runs in 52.3 overs. Baby eventually fell for 70 towards the end of the day, but Prem remained unbeaten on 94, with five fours and two sixes. Tripura’s offspinner returned figures of 2 for 71 from 34 overs.
ScorecardDarshan Misal scored his maiden first-class ton, but three-wicket hauls from medium-pacer Saurya Sanandiya and left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja meant Goa were bowled out for 239 against Saurashtra in Rajkot. Goa, opting to bat, lost wickets at regular intervals and only the efforts of Misal and Rituraj Singh, who scored 45, rescued the innings. The pair combined for a 71-run partnership, helping the team to the 200-run mark. However, no other batsman chipped in with a knock of substance, as Misal was left stranded unbeaten on 106, with his team folding in 84 overs. Sanandiya took 3 for 51 to dismiss the top order, while Jadeja’s 3 for 41 wrecked Goa’s middle and lower order. Saurashtra batted out one over in their innings without any damage before stumps were called.
ScorecardIshan Kishan and Anand Singh both raised centuries in Jamshedpur, as Jharkhand piled on the runs against Jammu & Kashmir, making 304 for 3 by stumps. Jharkhand, opting to bat, lost their opener Shiv Gautam off the first over of the match, but Kishan and Anand strung together a 189-run partnership in 44.2 overs. Kishan was the more aggressive of the two, striking 109 off 124 balls with 17 fours and a six, but was eventually dismissed by the medium-pacer Rohit Sharma. Anand, however, carried on to make a patient 124, with 19 fours and a six. Anand was stumped by Parvez Rasool towards the end of the day, but Saurabh Tiwary’s unbeaten 52 guided Jharkhand past 300.

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Hibernian will face significant competition in the race to sign former Hamilton winger Ali Crawford this summer.

What’s the story?

Crawford has been a stand out at Hamilton for a number of season, but was one of the players who left at the end of the 2017/18 following the expiration of his contract.

It seems though that he won’t be lacking for suitors this summer.

The Scottish Sun report that as well as Hibs, the likes of Blackpool, Dundee and Motherwell are all interested in signing him ahead of the new season.

Normally rated as worth £630,000 by Transfermarkt, is he a player that Hibernian should be going all out to attract to Easter Road?

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What can he offer Hibs?

Crawford has one of the stand-out players in the Scottish Premiership for a number of years now. Although he struggled with injuries throughout last season, he still contributed three goals and three assists from 19 appearances.

In the three seasons prior to last year though he demonstrated he has the ability and consistency to shine for a club like Hibs, scoring 26 goals and assisting 32 goals in three Premiership years.

That’s an attacking contribution that would be very welcome at Easter Road next season in support of Florian Kamberi, who signed permanently for the club this week.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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Lennon improves most players he works with and working with 26-year-old Crawford could bring the winger’s game to the next level, and at least back to the heights that saw him become a star player for Accies.

On a free transfer, it’s a signing Hibs should prioritise this summer.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:06

Nicholas: Batting was straightforward against inconsistent bowling

Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja adjusted from Twenty20 to Test match gears with all the smoothness of a well calibrated sports car, as Australia’s top order put their stamp on Boxing Day despite a well grassed pitch and a slightly improved West Indies.Both Burns and Khawaja had turned out for their BBL clubs in the gap between Tests, but it was the unsigned and rested David Warner who let adrenaline get the better of him in an early flurry that ended with his wicket after Jason Holder sent the Australians in to bat.The vast majority of a day delayed by an hour due to considerable morning rain was then taken up by a union that reaped 258 runs and centuries to Burns then Khawaja, who joyfully passed their milestones in the space of three deliveries after tea. Burns was ultimately out stumped at the hands of Kraigg Brathwaite, and Khawaja glanced Jerome Taylor into Denesh Ramdin’s gloves before the close.Their exits should not detract from the ruthlessness shown by Burns and Khawaja, two members of the Boxing Day selection triangle that ultimately cost Shaun Marsh his place. Burns showed excellent judgment around off stump while finding the boundary 17 times. Khawaja carried on with the rich vein of form and confidence that began at the Gabba against New Zealand: few batsmen in the world are capable of making the game look quite as simple as he does at his best.Australia’s batsmen were aided by another disappointingly muted display from the West Indies bowlers, who conceded runs at a lesser rate than they had done in Hobart but were nonetheless unable to create sustained pressure on the batsmen. The debutant Carlos Brathwaite was at one point reduced to bowling well outside off stump to a 7-2 field, a gambit the umpire Marais Erasmus opposed by calling a pair of disapproving wides.The tourists’ fielding was also indifferent – one Khawaja flick through the leg side was chased so languidly by Jerome Taylor that the batsmen might easily have run five. Later Marlon Samuels, who had juggled Warner’s skier, turfed a ball Khawaja struck more or less straight to him at cover. Melbourne’s smallest Boxing Day crowd since 1999 expressed appropriate disbelief.Holder had expressed hope that his pacemen would be able to exploit the moisture evident in the pitch after rain delayed the start by an hour. But they were stunned by Warner’s early salvo, striking five boundaries in the second and third overs of the day as 27 were heaped in the first three.Having stated his desire to make a century on Boxing Day – the MCG is the only Australian Test ground where he is yet to pass three figures – Warner was flushed with adrenaline, and overreached to his 12th ball when he tried to pull Taylor over midwicket and skied to Samuels at cover.This episode had been manic, and Khawaja’s arrival signalled something more orthodox as he tried to find his rhythm after playing only one BBL match for the Sydney Thunder on his way back to fitness following a hamstring strain. Not quite as initially fluent as he had been when making hundreds in Brisbane and Perth, Khawaja slowly found his range, while Burns looked safe at the other end having been retained in a decision that showed the selectors’ faith in him.The scoring rate built up once more as lunch neared, with Carlos Brathwaite, included for the injured Shannon Gabriel, going for 11 runs in his first two overs. Kemar Roach extracted one edge from Burns as the interval near, but it fell short of the slips cordon. Few such moments could be found in the afternoon, as Khawaja and Burns accumulated steadily while the MCG crowd swelled nearer to the gathering of around 50,000 hoped for by the MCC. Even so, 53,389 was the smallest Boxing Day attendance in at least a decade.They were witness to some attractive batting but also an assortment of bowling and fielding that veered from mediocre to awful. Holder’s control of proceedings was loose at times, his fields invariably defensive due to inconsistent bowling, and his choices of bowlers also odd – having exploited some moisture on the first morning in Hobart to gain useful spin, Jomel Warrican was unused this time until the day’s 42nd over, by which time there was precious little purchase for his slow left-arm.The evening session’s highlight was undoubtedly Burns and Khawaja passing three figures in the same Warrican over. It was otherwise something of a slog as the batsmen accumulated soundly while Holder tried with some success to limit the flow of boundaries. Khawaja was to reach or clear the rope seven times in his 144, a testament to his strike rotation but also the freely available diet of singles.There was a hint of tiredness in the dismissals of both Burns, advancing at Brathwaite but misjudging a ball fired flatter and wider, and a leg-glancing Khawaja. Their graft had left the match and series firmly in Australia’s lap, with the captain Steven Smith and the Hobart double centurion Adam Voges there at the close.

Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, the Bengal batsman who signed up with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), says he still nurtures hopes of playing for India despite the Indian board making it clear that players had to choose between the two.”If I’m doing well and if everyone is watching it [the ICL], no one can ignore me,” Jhunjhunwala told the on the sidelines of the league’s camp in Chennai. With 473 runs at 39.41 in the Ranji Trophy last season, Jhunjhunwala was expected by many to be called up to the national team.Jhunjhunwala and the other Bengal players, including the then captain Deep Dasgupta, who signed with the ICL, were omitted from the squad for the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup this month.Dasgupta, who is also at the camp, said he believed the selectors would be forced to take notice if Jhunjhunwala and other young players in the ICL performed well. “The idea is for the best 14 or 15 to play for India. It’s up to you to perform and put pressure on the selectors,” Dasgupta said.Balwinder Sandhu, the former Indian medium-pace bowler who is now a coach with the ICL, also appeared confident of things being sorted out. “If these players hammer international players, how can anyone keep them out? There will be public opinion,” Sandhu said. “You can’t ignore them only because they are playing for ICL.”The ICL plans to hold a Twenty20 tournament in October featuring six teams, each with two Indian internationals, four overseas players and eight juniors. Over 50 domestic players have already signed up with the league and more are expected to join. A second camp begins on October 8, when the format and schedule of the tournament will be announced.

The Australian Academy side, fresh from a 3-0 whitewash of Kenya, continued their good form with a thumping 119-run victory over a Zimbabwe Board XI at Harare Sports Club.The Academy’s batting was too much for the Kenyans, and Shaun Marsh, who hit two massive hundreds in Nairobi, slammed 170 off 144 balls and put on a large opening stand with Tim Paine (63), who made the most of being dropped early on by Tafadzwa Kamungozi at deep extra-cover. Kamungozi made amends of a sort when he bowled Paine in the 27th over, but that was the only wicket that fell as the Academy raced on to 309 for 1.That was always likely to be too much for a young Zimbabwe side and they lost wickets steadily, none more recklessly than that of Piet Rinke – in need of runs to cement his place in the national side – who was run-out in a mix-up with Chamu Chibhabha. Chibhabha went on to make 42 but no one else was able to make any significant contribution.

Martin Whitely, a former accountant with the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA), pleaded guilty to 53 counts of stealing and was sentenced to a 20-month jail term.The district court in Perth heard that Whitely, 32, stole almost $160,000 (£65,000) from the WACA over a three-year period and gambled it through TAB Ltd, Australia’s second biggest gaming group. In a similar case last month, Susan Woodward, 54, admitted stealing more than £82,000 from Northamptonshire.Judge Robert Mazza made Whitely eligible for parole and instructed him to repay the money to the WACA.

Gary Hopkins, an English ex-pat businessman who has been living and working in the United States for 14 years, has been appointed chief executive of an ICC development project, designed to promote cricket in the USA.The appointment follows the ICC’s commitment to developing cricket around the world, and is the first step in a strategic project to increase the profile and participation levels of cricket in the USA. The initiative was given the support of the ICC’s executive board in October last year.”The ICC is delighted that, after a vigorous world-wide selection process, Gary has accepted this unique role,” said Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive. “This is an exciting and challenging time for cricket in the United States and he brings to the position a wealth of relevant experience and expertise.”A passionate cricket follower, Mr Hopkins has extensive experience in the US sports industry, and has held senior executive positions with Octagon, API Sponsorship and the International Academy. He spent eight years assisting the United States Soccer Federation with their commercial development, as well as five years rebuilding the sponsorship, event and broadcast programs for USA Track and Field.”I am excited to be able to help cricket expand its presence in the United States,” he said, “and look forward to introducing the excitement of one-day international games to fans across the country.” His appointment was made in conjunction with the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), whose president, Gladstone Dainty, welcomed the appointment. “USA Cricket eagerly looks forward to the possibility of one-day international cricket on our soil,” he said. “We look forward to working with Gary to achieve just that.”The President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Mr Teddy Griffith, said the West Indies was fully behind the appointment and development of cricket in the USA. “As a Full Member of the ICC and the Americas Development Region, the West Indies Cricket Board is fully committed to supporting this special project for cricket in the United States. The WICB looks forward to doing all it can to bring the desired events to fruition.”Mr Hopkins, who will be based in Pennsylvania, will take up his position from Monday, August 16.

Note: these averages are not accurate due to numerous discrepancies in the scoresheets submitted.

BATTING AND FIELDINGM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct/St R/OAdam, H (Un) 5 3 1 10 6 5.00 – – 4Adam, S (Un) 2 – – — — — – – 1Anticevich, C M (Alex) 5 3 2 20 8* 20.00 – – 3Bailey, S (OG) 1 – – — — — – – -Bala, S (HSC) 5 3 2 9 8 9.00 – – -Barrett, G F (OG) 1 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -Barry, S (Alex) 4 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -Bath, B (Alex) 2 2 1 22 19 22.00 – – -Benade, T (OH) 5 3 0 13 12 4.33 – – -Benhura, B Z (Alex) 8 6 0 48 18 8.00 – – 1Bennett, R J (OG) 8 5 1 16 8* 4.00 – – 2Biggs, J (OG) 1 1 1 16 16* — – – -Blignaut, A M (Alex) 2 2 0 29 29 14.50 – – -Bradshaw, D (OG) 1 1 0 7 7 7.00 – – -Brandes, E A (HSC) 1 1 0 5 5 5.00 – – -Brent, G B (OH) 7 4 0 48 28 12.00 – – 6 1Brewer, C H (OH) 8 7 1 180 139* 30.00 1 – 1Brous, P (HSC) 2 1 0 32 32 32.00 – – 3Brundle, M R D (HSC) 2 2 0 12 8 6.00 – – -Butterworth, R E (OH) 8 7 0 120 45 17.14 – – 1Cameron, J (Alex) 4 4 2 34 26 17.00 – – 3Campbell, A D R (HSC) 1 1 0 4 4 4.00 – – -Campbell, D J R (HSC) 2 1 0 3 3 3.00 – – -Carlisle, S V (HSC) 6 6 1 84 38 16.80 – – 1Chari, N (OH) 3 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – -Chauluka, E (T) 7 7 1 109 46* 18.16 – – 1Chawaguta, W R (T) 3 3 0 35 26 11.66 – – -Chemhuru, I (Up) 6 6 0 24 11 4.00 – – 1Chibhabha, C (T) 2 2 1 22 14* 22.00 – – 1Chigumbura, E (T) 5 5 0 63 16 12.60 – – 3Chihera, A (Up) 6 6 2 56 23* 19.00 – – 1Chinyengetere, R (OG) 5 3 0 12 9 4.00 – – -Chinyoka, I M (Up) 7 7 0 79 30 11.28 – – – 1Chiposi, G (Up) 7 7 1 38 23* 6.33 – – -Chiradza, R (Un) 2 – – — — — – – -Chitare, A (Up) 1 1 0 16 16 16.00 – – -Chitare, M (T) 1 1 0 15 15 15.00 – – – 1Chouhan, N (Un) 6 4 0 37 22 9.25 – – 7/1Cornford, J M (HSC) 5 4 0 147 60 36.75 – 1 -Coulson, I M (OG) 8 5 2 33 27* 11.00 – – -Coulson, M (OG) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Coventry, C K (Un) 1 1 0 9 9 9.00 – – 1/1 1Cremer, G (HSC) 1 1 1 3 3* — – – 1Croxford, G M (Un) 7 6 1 162 79 32.40 – 1 3Croxford, R (HSC) 1 – – — — — – – -de Beer, D (Alex) 7 7 0 166 55 23.71 – 1 5de Grandhomme, C (Alex) 4 4 0 31 23 7.75 – – 1de Grandhomme, I (Alex) 4 4 2 16 8* 8.00 – – 1de Sousa, R (OG) 5 4 0 30 19 7.50 – – -Delport, C (OH) 1 1 0 4 4 4.00 – – -du Plessis, G (Alex) 3 1 1 10 10* — – – 1Durham, A M (HSC) 5 3 0 77 38 25.66 – – 3 2Dzvairo, T (OH) 1 1 1 0 0* — – – -Ebrahim, D D (Un) 3 3 0 90 39 30.00 – – 2Ehsitere, M (OH) 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – -Ervine, C (OH) 3 3 2 100 64 100.00 – 1 -Ervine, R (OH) 1 – – — — — – – -Ervine, S M (OH) 3 2 1 103 75* 103.00 – 1 6Esat, A (Un) 1 – – — — — – – -Evans, C N (OG) 4 3 1 89 68 44.50 – 1 3Ferreira, M (HSC) 2 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Ferreira, N R (HSC) 5 5 2 185 101* 61.66 1 – 3/1Flower, G W (OG) 2 2 0 59 36 29.50 – – -Fraser, A (OG) 2 1 0 3 3 3.00 – – -Friend, T J (OG) 2 2 0 32 32 16.00 – – 1Gilmour, A R G (Alex) 7 6 2 51 14 12.75 – – 2Goche, B (OG) 1 – – — — — – – -Goosen, G C (Alex) 8 8 2 215 69 35.83 – 1 2/2Gripper, T R (HSC) 6 6 2 273 71 68.25 – 4 2Gwandure, A (Up) 7 7 1 44 27 7.33 – – -Hamid, A (OH) 1 – – — — — – – -Hoffman, A P (HSC) 2 2 0 54 29 27.00 – – -Hondo, D T (Un) 3 2 0 62 48 31.00 – – 1Irvine, D (HSC) 3 2 0 17 9 8.50 – – -Johnstone-Robertson, G (HSC) 2 1 0 7 7 7.00 – – -Jones, S (OG) 6 3 0 40 33 13.33 – – – 1Kaschula, R (OH) 1 1 0 17 17 17.00 – – -Katende, A (Up) 1 1 0 1 1 1.00 – – -Katende, N (Up) 2 2 0 6 6 3.00 – – -Katomeni, T (Up) 3 3 0 29 13 9.66 – – -Khan, S (OH) 6 1 0 8 8 8.00 – – 4/1Kondo, K (Un) 1 1 1 0 0* — – – -Kuhlengiza, D (Up) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Kuhn, B (HSC) 2 2 0 37 36 18.50 – – -Kulinga, K (T) 1 – – — — — – – -Lamb, G A (OH) 3 1 1 29 29* — – – -Mackay, A J (OG) 4 2 0 88 87 44.00 – 1 -Macmillan, C (Alex) 2 1 0 49 49 49.00 – – -Madhiri, T (Up) 1 1 0 4 4 4.00 – – -Mahwire, N B (Un) 6 4 2 72 35* 36.00 – – 1 1Makoni, G (T) 8 7 0 47 19 6.62 – – – 1Makunura, S T (T) 6 6 1 90 33 18.00 – – -Malloch-Brown, L S (OG) 8 7 2 132 65* 26.40 – 1 5/1Manyande, R N (T) 7 6 0 131 37 21.83 – – 1Maregwede, A (T) 7 7 0 245 79 35.00 – 2 10/2 1Marillier, D A (Alex) 4 4 2 312 97* 156.00 – 4 2Marillier, S J (Alex) 7 7 0 161 45 23.00 – – 2Marumisa, J (T) 2 2 1 33 25* 33.00 – – -Masakadza, H (T) 3 2 1 10 6* 10.00 – – 3Mashonganyika, T (OH) 1 – – — — — – – -Matambanadzo, D R (Un) 6 4 1 96 40 32.00 – – 3Matsikenyeri, S (T) 4 4 0 146 100 36.50 1 – 1Maungwa, A (T) 7 6 3 51 24* 17.00 – – 3Mbwembwe, A (T) 6 3 1 8 4 4.00 – – – 1McKean, M (HSC) 2 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -McMillan, J (OG) 1 1 0 7 7 7.00 – – -Meman, I (Un) 6 4 0 62 41 15.50 – – 4Mhandu, A (HSC) 6 2 1 0 0* 0.00 – – -Mhende, ? (Up) 1 1 1 1 1* — – – -Moyo, P (OG) 1 1 0 2 2 2.00 – – -Mufambisi, T (T) 2 2 0 20 18 10.00 – – 1Mugochi, B (OG) 2 2 1 0 0* 0.00 – – 2Mukandiwa, C (Up) 8 8 0 119 52 18.87 – 1 1Mukombachoto, B (OG) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Mulambo, B (T) 1 1 0 9 9 9.00 – – -Munemo, C (Up) 2 2 0 20 18 10.00 – – 1Murphy, B A (Un) 4 4 1 191 134* 63.66 1 – 2Muteerwa, J (Up) 8 8 1 88 25 12.57 – – 3Mutendera, D T (Un/T) 7 6 0 108 43 18.00 – – 5Mutyambizi, L K (Up) 5 5 0 36 21 7.20 – – -Mwayenga, A (HSC) 2 1 1 2 2* — – – 1Mwayenga, W (OG) 2 2 0 20 11 10.00 – – 1Neethling, A J C (OG) 8 7 1 139 49* 23.16 – – 3Nicolle, J S (Un) 3 1 1 14 14* — – – -Nkala, Q (Alex) 4 3 0 14 11 4.66 – – -Panyangara, T (T) 2 1 1 10 10* — – – -Penney, A (HSC) 3 2 0 3 2 1.50 – – -Price, R W (OH) 7 5 1 66 30 16.50 – – 1Randle, ? (OG) 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Rennie, G J (Alex) 8 8 1 233 87 33.28 – 2 3Rinke, H P (OH) 7 3 2 23 18* 23.00 – – 4Rizhibowa, C (Up) 4 4 0 26 12 6.50 – – -Robb, D (OG) 3 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Rogers, B G (Un) 5 4 1 268 131 89.33 1 1 3Rupiya, S (Up) 2 2 0 1 1 0.50 – – -Ruswa, T P (T) 3 2 2 13 13* — – – -Samundere, K D (T) 2 2 1 23 17 23.00 – – 1Sanyika, B (Un) 7 3 1 11 10 5.50 – – 1Scott, C (Alex) 1 – – — — — – – -Seager, M S L (OG) 1 1 0 3 3 3.00 – – -Senzere, I (Up) 8 8 2 171 58* 28.50 – 1 2Shah, S (Un) 4 2 1 15 9* 15.00 – – 2Shamuyarira, A (OG) 3 2 0 0 0 0.00 – – -Sibanda, V (T) 3 3 0 73 36 24.33 – – 2Sims, R W (OH) 5 4 2 90 35 45.00 – – 1Stannard, D D (Alex) 7 1 1 2 2* — – – -Steel, M (OG) 1 1 0 9 9 9.00 – – 1Strang, P A (OH) 7 4 1 179 75* 59.66 – 2 3 1Taibu, K J (Un) 3 2 0 51 51 25.50 – 1 2/0Taibu, T (T) 1 1 0 30 30 30.00 – – -Taylor, B R M (HSC) 2 2 0 19 13 9.50 – – -Tichana, A (Up) 8 8 0 71 23 8.87 – – 1Utseya, P (T) 8 6 2 9 5 2.25 – – 4Vaughan-Davies, M J (Alex) 3 3 0 40 15 13.33 – – 1Vermeulen, M A (HSC) 2 2 0 87 85 43.50 – 1 -Viljoen, D P (OH) 8 5 1 169 78 42.25 – 2 4 1Vingi, P (Un) 1 – – — — — – – 1 1Wells, J (Alex) 1 1 0 8 8 8.00 – – -Went, K R P (HSC) 7 6 0 57 16 9.50 – – 2Whittall, G J (OG) 1 – – — — — – – 1Wishart, C B (OG) 2 2 0 119 84 59.50 – 1 2LEADING RUN-SCORERS (Qualification: 250 runs)M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50Marillier, D A (Alex) 4 4 2 312 97* 156.00 – 4Gripper, T R (HSC) 6 6 2 273 71 68.25 – 4Rogers, B G (Un) 5 4 1 268 131 89.33 1 1LEADING AVERAGES (Qualification: 4 innings)M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50Marillier, D A (Alex) 4 4 2 312 97* 156.00 – 4Rogers, B G (Un) 5 4 1 268 131 89.33 1 1Gripper, T R (HSC) 6 6 2 273 71 68.25 – 4Murphy, B A (Un) 4 4 1 191 134* 63.66 1 -Ferreira, N R (HSC) 5 5 2 185 101* 61.66 1 -Strang, P A (OH) 7 4 1 179 75* 59.66 – 2Sims, R W (OH) 5 4 2 90 35 45.00 – -Viljoen, D P (OH) 8 5 1 169 78 42.25 – 2 4 1Cornford, J M (HSC) 5 4 0 147 60 36.75 – 1Matsikenyeri, S (T) 4 4 0 146 100 36.50 1 -Mahwire, N B (Un) 6 4 2 72 35* 36.00 – -Goosen, G C (Alex) 8 8 2 215 69 35.83 – 1Maregwede, A (T) 7 7 0 245 79 35.00 – 2Croxford, G M (Un) 7 6 1 162 79 32.40 – 1Brewer, C H (OH) 8 7 1 180 139* 30.00 1 -BOWLING AVERAGESO M R W Av. Best RateAdam, H (Un) 19 1 91 5 18.20 5/58 4.78Adam, S (Un) 11 0 46 2 23.00 2/5 4.18Anticevich, C M (Alex) 27 2 120 1 120.00 1/45 4.44Bala, S (HSC) 70 13 232 9 25.77 4/31 3.38Barry, S (Alex) 19.3 6 61 1 61.00 1/17 3.12Benade, T (OH) 4.1 1 19 1 19.00 1/19 4.56Benhura, B (Alex) 26 3 88 2 44.00 1/22 3.38Bennett, R J (OG) 47.3 3 227 9 25.22 5/46 4.54Blignaut, A M (Alex) 12 0 46 0 — — 3.83Bradshaw, D (OG) 6 0 24 2 12.00 2/24 4.00Brandes, E A (HSC) 12.3 1 59 2 29.50 2/59 4.72Brent, G B (OH) 64 10 220 5 44.00 3/33 3.43Cameron, J (Alex) 5 0 32 2 16.00 2/32 6.40Chari, N (OH) 5 0 32 2 16.00 2/32 6.40Chawaguta, W T (T) 11 0 57 1 57.00 1/10 5.18Chemhuru, I (Up) 18 1 87 5 17.40 3/54 4.83Chigumbura, E (T) 37.5 5 132 9 14.66 3/21 3.48Chinyoka, I M (Up) 70 9 214 11 19.45 6/42 3.05Chiposi, G (Up) 35 1 195 4 48.75 2/49 5.57Chitare, M (T) 5 0 30 0 — — 6.00Chouhan, N (Un) 7 0 51 1 51.00 1/51 7.28Coulson, I M (OG) 47.2 5 182 9 20.22 4/54 3.25Cremer, G (HSC) 6.4 2 18 1 18.00 1/18 2.70Croxford, G M (Un) 33 5 109 2 54.50 1/16 3.30de Grandhomme, C (Alex) 12 3 27 3 9.00 2/16 2.25de Souza, R (OG) 2 0 25 0 — — 12.50du Plessis, G (Alex) 20 4 65 6 10.83 3/40 3.25Durham, A M (HSC) 18.3 1 84 4 21.00 3/42 4.60Ebrahim, D D (Un) 12 1 37 1 37.00 1/36 3.08Ervine, C (OH) 1 0 1 0 — — 1.00Ervine, R (OH) 5 1 18 1 18.00 1/18 3.60Ervine, S M (OH) 31 8 97 3 32.33 2/47 3.12Evans, C N (OG) 11 0 56 1 56.00 1/56 5.09Flower, G W (OG) 18 3 50 3 16.66 3/36 1.75Friend, T J (OG) 15 0 84 6 14.00 4/36 5.60Gripper, T R (HSC) 58.4 7 235 9 26.11 4/48 4.07Hoffman, A P (HSC) 5 0 35 0 — — 7.00Hondo, D T (Un) 12.4 1 41 1 41.00 1/15 3.23Katende, A (Up) 6 0 28 0 — — 4.66Kuhlengiza, D (Up) 7 1 33 1 33.00 1/33 4.71Mackay, A J (OG) 45 6 139 8 17.37 4/43 2.82Macmillan, C (Alex) 17 4 24 1 24.00 1/17 1.41Mahwire, N B (Un) 48 8 202 8 25.25 4/59 4.20Makunura, S T (T) 4 0 32 0 — — 8.00Manyande, R N (T) 33 2 140 3 46.66 3/23 4.24Marillier, D A (Alex) 42.3 1 188 10 18.80 2/50 4.42Marillier, S J (Alex) 32 1 155 8 19.37 5/46 4.84Masakadza, H (T) 37.2 5 152 12 12.66 5/48 4.07Matambanadzo, D R (Un) 8 0 55 0 — — 6.87Matsikenyeri, S (T) 13 0 60 3 20.00 2/46 4.61Maungwa, A (T) 45 6 160 8 20.00 2/27 3.55Mbwembwe, A (T) 40 8 124 5 24.80 2/18 3.10Mhandu, A (HSC) 5 0 41 1 41.00 1/27 8.20Mugochi, B (OG) 2 0 4 0 — — 2.00Mukandiwa, C (Up) 44 1 215 7 30.71 3/58 4.88Murphy, B A (Un) 68.3 6 274 17 16.11 4/80 4.00Muteerwa, J (Up) 57 6 252 5 50.40 2/67 4.42Mutendera, D T (Un/T) 19 0 127 3 42.33 2/17 6.68Mutyambizi, L K (Up) 9 0 51 1 51.00 1/25 5.66Mwayenga, A (HSC) 18 0 126 0 — — 7.00Mwayenga, W (OG) 15 1 72 3 24.00 2/38 4.80Neethling, A J C (OG) 37.5 6 145 5 29.00 2/23 3.83Nicolle, J S (Un) 13 0 75 2 37.50 2/58 5.80Panyangara, T (T) 13 1 33 1 33.00 1/17 2.53Price, R W (OH) 113 16 357 20 17.85 4/17 3.15Rennie, G J (Alex) 113.3 13 331 18 18.38 5/58 2.84Rinke, H P (OH) 34 6 134 7 19.14 3/13 3.94Robb, D (OG) 15 1 74 0 — — 4.93Rogers, B G (Un) 52 1 205 8 25.62 3/34 3.94Rupiya, S (Up) 3 0 26 1 26.00 1/18 8.66Ruswa, T P (T) 11 1 46 4 11.50 4/15 4.18Sanyika, B (Un) 9 1 30 5 6.00 5/30 3.33Seager, M S L (OG) 2 0 5 0 — — 2.50Shah, S (Un) 10 0 77 5 15.40 4/34 7.70Shamuyarira, A (OG) 4 1 13 0 — — 3.25Sibanda, V (T) 1 0 7 0 — — 7.00Sims, R W (OH) 29.4 2 98 8 12.25 5/31 3.30Stannard, D D (Alex) 47.1 2 221 10 22.10 6/24 4.68Strang, P A (OH) 22.3 6 95 6 15.83 3/44 4.22Taibu, T (T) 14 1 49 0 — — 3.50Tichana, A (Up) 29.2 3 135 2 67.50 2/39 4.60Utseya, P (T) 80.2 5 275 14 19.64 3/27 3.42Vaughan-Davies, M J (Alex) 21 2 73 6 12.16 6/26 3.47Vermeulen, M A (HSC) 1 0 10 0 — — 10.00Viljoen, D P (OH) 28 1 121 5 24.20 2/32 4.32Whittall, G J (OG) 13.4 2 47 4 11.75 4/47 3.43Wishart, C B (OG) 7 0 41 1 41.00 1/41 5.85LEADING WICKET-TAKERS (Qualification: 15 wickets)O M R W Av. Best RatePrice, R W (OH) 113 16 357 20 17.85 4/17 3.15Rennie, G J (Alex) 113.3 13 331 18 18.38 5/58 2.84Murphy, B A (Un) 68.3 6 274 17 16.11 4/80 4.00LEADING AVERAGES (Qualification: 30 overs)O M R W Av. Best RateMasakadza, H (T) 37.2 5 152 12 12.66 5/48 4.07Chigumbura, E (T) 37.5 5 132 9 14.66 3/21 3.48Murphy, B A (Un) 68.3 6 274 17 16.11 4/80 4.00Mackay, A J (OG) 45 6 139 8 17.37 4/43 2.82Price, R W (OH) 113 16 357 20 17.85 4/17 3.15Rennie, G J (Alex) 113.3 13 331 18 18.38 5/58 2.84Marillier, D A (Alex) 42.3 1 188 10 18.80 2/50 4.42Rinke, H P (OH) 34 6 134 7 19.14 3/13 3.94Marillier, S J (Alex) 32 1 155 8 19.37 5/46 4.84Chinyoka, I M (Up) 70 9 214 11 19.45 6/42 3.05Utseya, P (T) 80.2 5 275 14 19.64 3/27 3.42

South Australian batsman Greg Blewett has been formally released by English county club Nottinghamshire. The midlands club, for which Blewett has been an outstanding contributor this year, has indicated overnight that it intends to sign a specialist bowler as its overseas professional for the 2002 season.Blewett has been a model of consistency for Nottinghamshire in 2001. He entered the final round of the first-class season with 1277 runs alongside his name at an average of 51.08, and has scored five centuries and five half-centuries.His form in the various one-day competitions, headlined by 453 runs in the National League, has also been sound. While he has not reached three figures in limited-overs matches, ten half-centuries have come his way and he has played a crucial role in laying the platform for a number of important victories for the club.”Greg came to the club with a terrific track record in Australia and has contributed fantastically both on the field and in the dressing room, where he has helped out the younger players,” Nottinghamshire cricket manager Clive Rice said.”He has been consistent and at times has been a delight to watch but we have struggled to take 20 wickets in games this season and so have decided to go for someone who can make a major contribution with the ball.”Blewett joins Essex’s Stuart Law as two Australians now certain not to return to their current county teams next year. Despite continuing to score runs in prolific fashion in his sixth northern summer at Essex, Law has been a victim of internal division at the club and is shaping as a prized potential recruit for a number of other county clubs. His name has already been strongly linked with Lancashire.Darren Lehmann (Yorkshire) and Jamie Cox (Somerset) are two Australians certain to be retained at their clubs, while Ian Harvey (Gloucestershire), Michael Hussey (Northamptonshire) and Martin Love (Durham) are also considered likely to return.The future of the remaining Australian imports to have appeared in county ranks this year – Michael DiVenuto (Derbyshire), Jimmy Maher (Glamorgan), Andrew Symonds (Kent), Daniel Marsh (Leicestershire), Murray Goodwin (Sussex) and Andy Bichel (Worcestershire) – is yet to be decided.

The Indian board will announce the name of sponsors for its international and domestic cricket matches for next 31 months on Monday at the conclusion of the bidding process for the rights.”The bidding process will end at 12 noon [on Monday],” said Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president and marketing committee head, who declined to reveal details on the number of bids received so far.The BCCI had invited bids from sponsors earlier this month for ground and title naming rights for all ODIs and Tests to be played in India and featuring the country from September 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010.Similarly, bids had also been invited for all Twenty20 internationals to be held in India as well as matches featuring India A and India juniors against international teams.It had also invited bids for the rights of its domestic tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy, N K P Salve Challenger Series, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Irani Trophy and the Premier (one-day) Cup.A sponsor or agency for the branding of umpires’ clothing for all domestic ties had also been sought for through the bidding process by the BCCI.The bids are to be opened at 2 pm on August 27 in front of the board’s marketing committee and the bidders at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.But the board has also reserved the right to cancel or amend the entire bidding process at any stage and to reject any and all bids without assigning any reason.