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Australia’s Cricket Academy turned the tables on New Zealand’s Academy and took a first innings win from their second two-day match at Adelaide Oval No 2 yesterday.New Zealand had scored 399 on the first day and while Australia were 12 for one at one stage they produced some sound batting performances to claim their win.Shaun Marsh led the way against some disappointing New Zealand bowling. He was joined in a 126-run partnership for the third wicket by Rowan Brewster and when they went to lunch, Australia were 169/2 off 44 overs.Bowling two lengths on the placid pitch proved detrimental to New Zealand’s hopes but just after the break Jamie How snapped up left-hander Marsh from Nathan McCullum’s bowling as the Australian departed for 77 off 145 balls with the score at 180.McCullum also claimed Tim Welsford’s wicket to a catch at mid wicket by Greg Todd when he attempted a lofted on drive.Then with the score on 214/4, McCullum picked up Brewster for 72, scored off 112 balls, when How took the catch at slip.But Luke Ronchi hit out hard to deny New Zealand the initiative and by tea he had helped Beau Casson add 89 runs off 103 balls for the sixth wicket with Australia 303/5.Even the new ball could make no impact and Ronchi scored his century off 100 balls while Casson, an ideal support, scored his half century off 101 balls. Sam Whiteman finally broke the stand when bowling Casson for 55, ending the partnership of 169 runs.However, only 17 runs remained for the first innings win and Ronchi had the satisfaction of hitting them to be 124 not out off 112 balls. He hit two sixes and 16 fours and Australia got home by four wickets.New Zealand coach Dayle Hadlee said the New Zealand effort in the field was disappointing as the bowlers ignored the basic fundamentals of line and length.”Changes of pace and subtleties at the crease were rare as the batsmen dominated and errors in the field contributed to the eventual first innings loss,” he said.The two-day series finished one apiece and two one-day games will be played over the weekend.

Mohali has been a lucky ground for the Indians as they have had a good win record at this ground. Sourav’s luck with the toss carried into the second one-dayer; he elected to bat on a wicket that offers runs in plenty. Zimbabwe had to field on a wicket that is one of the few in India that favours pace.Openers Dinesh Mongia and Sourav Ganguly got off to the start that was just what the doctor ordered. Despite a few uneasy moments against the pace of Heath Streak, the pair went on to pile up the runs in an aggressive fashion. Together they added a quick-fire 109 for the opening partnership, a good base to build a big total. Dinesh Mongia showed that he had the right match temperament with a 52-ball, 45 run innings! Laxman joined his captain to add to the run blitz, but it was Ganguly who looked really hungry for runs, smashing as many as eight boundaries and three hits that were skied which got him to a racy 86 off 83 balls. India lost her captain with the score on 188.Rahul Dravid walked out on to the Mohali pitch and faced the Zimbabwean bowling attack. Laxman was playing the cautious role. The flow of runs had decreased slightly but Dravid had a point to prove that he was not that `slow defensive batsman’ people make him out to be. He went into attack mode and found the fence with immaculate timing. Laxman gave him sensible support at the other end before he fell after scoring a half-century, leaving India 243 for three. This pair had added 55 runs for the third wicket.Dravid was joined by Mohammad Kaif, but this partnership did not last long, as India were now just piling on the runs, and Kaif made an exit, making way for the local hero Harbhajan Singh played a spicy knock of 15. Dravid carried on batting in a fashion that was diametrically opposite to the image he has, of being slow. Trying innovative shots, he sped his way to 66 off only 59 balls, giving India a really commanding total of 319 for six.The visitors had one over docked for the slow over rate, and were therefore required to get 320 runs in 49 overs. Always a mammoth task, the start was not at all appropriate as Dion Ebrahim departed early with the score on 4. Alistiar Campbell was joined by Travis Friend in a new role as pinch-hitter.The positive attitude of the two batsmen came to the fore as they went about the task of accumulating runs. Campbell’s experience gelled well with the young blood of Friend. And together they consolidated the partnership and India were left searching for answers. A record partnership of 134 runs for the second wicket emerged, before Travis Friend was dismissed for 64 off 60 balls; he had played his role to a T.Andy Flower joined Campbell and one felt that another solid partnership here would be crucial and perhaps make things difficult for India. But Campbell was soon on his way back to the pavilion after scoring 62 runs for his country. The visitors were 143 for three.With the two Flower bothers at the crease, Zimbabwe could be hopeful of getting on with the task at hand. Unfortunately, the normally good understanding between the two brothers was missing and a run-out caused Grant Flower to head back to the pavilion. Andy showed his frustration, but the show had to go on and he had to play a big part.Captain Carlisle and Andy Flower were at the crease to try to save the day for Zimbabwe. The target loomed large and all the prize wickets were in India’s bag. 38 runs were added for the fifth wicket before Andy Flower chopped a ball onto his stumps for 29.The Zimbabwean batsmen could not deliver the goods and with the departure of Carlisle and the score 212 for six, the result was pretty certain. Of course one can never say in cricket and especially one-day cricket.This time around, the tail failed to wag, and the visitors were bundled out for 255. India won convincingly by 64 runs and the love affair with the Mohali ground continues. Captain Ganguly, Dinesh Mongia, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh contributed largely to the win that would raise the morale of the team as they go to Kochi for the third one-dayer.The Zimbabweans need to rework a few things before they write a fresh page at the next venue. With the series level, the two teams can be rest assured that quality cricket is the need of the hour, to show one’s supremacy in the shorter version of the game.And when that fat lady sings, only then can one say with conviction that indeed this was the better one-day side of the two.

Shahid Afridi has decided to end a nearly four-year hiatus from domestic first-class cricket in a bid to regain his form ahead of the India series next month. Afridi will represent Habib Bank Limited in the ongoing President’s Trophy, after last having played for them in January 2009.”We understand he [Afridi] has been struggling with his form and obviously he has to play quality cricket to regain it,” a spokesman from HBL sports department told ESPNcricinfo. “Unfortunately there is no limited-overs cricket being played at the moment and the on-going first-class tournament is the way out for him to get engaged to change his dipping form.”Afridi is currently in the middle of a severe form trough, highlighted at the recent World Twenty20. He made only 30 runs in six matches, and picked up four wickets at 42.75. In ODIs this year, he has scored 182 runs in 16 matches and taken 15 wickets at 43.13 (including a five-for against the lightweights of Afghanistan).Pakistan’s exit from the semi-final in the World Twenty20 has drawn criticism from several former players, with some blaming Afridi’s poor form as the primary reason for the team’s failure to reach the final.Afridi will join the HBL squad in place of Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who is currently serving his 12 weeks ban for using recreational drug cannabis during his stint with Somerset in the English domestic season. “Though Afridi’s name wasn’t listed in 20-man probables for the team, he can take the place of Rehman to play the rest of the rounds ahead of the India series,” the spokesman said.

Border gave their chances of reaching the Supersport Series final a tonic with an emphatic 162-run defeat of Free State in Bloemfontein on Sunday, their 18-point haul catapulting them into second place on the standings behind runaway leaders Western Province.A career-best return of 6-56 from seamer Tyron Henderson was the icing on the cake of a fine professional performance from the Bears, who hugged the life out a lacklustre Free State side. It was only the third time Henderson has taken five or more wickets in an innings, and surpassed his previous best – 5-44 for SA Academy against Scotland in 1999.Resuming on 89-2, the early overs passed without incident for Free State as the overnight batsmen, Jonathan Beukes and Louis Wilkinson, both moved to half-centuries. But when Wilkinson was Henderson’s first scalp of the day on 56, the Free State flag began its journey down the pole.Two more wickets for Henderson and a strike from off-spinner Geoff Love to remove Beukes leg-before for 64 reduced the home side to 146-6. Opener Gerhardus Liebenberg, batting down the order at number seven after bruising two fingers attempting a catch on Saturday, briefly steadied things with the kind of composure you would expect from a man of his talent and temperament.But when Henderson finally prised him out for 34 and Victor Mpitsang fell the very next ball, the bowler was on a hat-trick and the victory all but complete. Dewald Pretorius survived the hat-trick delivery, but when Vasbert Drakes rearranged his stumps three overs later, Border’s eyes were well and truly on the final.

Lancashire have released former England fast bowler Saj Mahmood after ten years at the club. Mahmood, 30, spent the latter part of the season on loan at Somerset, after losing his place in the Lancashire side, and it has now been confirmed that his contract will not be renewed.Mahmood, who has played in eight Tests and 26 ODIs, was a part of Lancashire’s title-winning team last season, taking 35 wickets, but saw his opportunities this year limited by the arrival of Ajmal Shahzad from Yorkshire. He made just three Championship appearances in 2012 and didn’t play again after conceding 42 from 2.3 overs – and 17 off his last three legitimate deliveries – in Lancashire’s opening Friends Life t20 defeat to Derbyshire.Lancashire’s director of cricket, Mike Watkinson, said: “We would like to thank Saj for his contribution to the club over the last 10 years and we wish him well for the future.”After being spotted playing in the Bolton Leagues, Mahmood joined Lancashire on a scholarship in 2002 and went on to make his international debut at the age of 22. With more than 300 first-class wickets to his name and the ability to bowl at significant pace, Mahmood should be an attractive prospect for many counties, though he recently admitted that “inconsistency” had dogged his career.Although he swapped a relegation battle that saw Lancashire drop into Division Two for a spell with the county that eventually finished second to the champions, Warwickshire, Mahmood was mainly signed as cover by Somerset. In three appearances he claimed eight wickets at 30.12 and they may prefer to rely on the emerging Overton twins and Lewis Gregory as fast-bowling back-up for 2013.

ScorecardPhillip Hughes was given a working over by the Lions quicks but battled to make 30•Getty Images

On the eve of this match, Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann was asked whether any restrictions would be placed on how long a batsman could play, given the two-day contest was limited to 100 overs per side. “I don’t think we’re at that stage where we can do that,” Lehmann said. “If someone can bat 100 overs, they bat 100 overs.” It turns out even surviving for 100 balls was too tall an order for any of the Australians.Matthew Wade and James Faulkner might have got there, well established as they were when bad light ended play just after 5pm, consigning the one-innings match to a draw with Australia on 227 for 6 in their chase of 270. But the very fact that only one of Australia’s top six – Phillip Hughes – lasted longer at the crease than the No.7 and 8 batsmen suggested the day had been a bust for the Australians, who needed to gain some batting confidence.When play was abandoned, Wade was on 38 from 69 deliveries and Faulkner had 29 from 75 balls, but it was the efforts of Hughes and Usman Khawaja that were under greater scrutiny given the likely battle for the No.3 spot at The Oval. Neither man made the big score he wanted but Hughes won on crease occupation against a solid all-round England Lions attack, albeit on a pitch that didn’t offer much in the way of sideways movement.It was telling that Khawaja, the incumbent first-drop in the Test team, was demoted to No.6. His only scoring stroke was a crisp on-drive off his pads for four but he was caught behind when he prodded outside off and edged Ben Stokes for 4. By comparison, Hughes looked uncomfortable at times, including when he fell over while playing a hook off James Harris and when he copped a few shortish deliveries on the body, but at least he found a way to survive.Hughes played some classy strokes as well, a couple of cover-drives in particular, before playing back when Keith Barker dropped the ball short of a length and playing on for 30 from 92 deliveries. It was a start wasted, but Hughes was not alone in that regard. Shane Watson and David Warner both struck the ball well but failed to reach half-centuries, and Ed Cowan and Steven Smith made starts but no more. None showed the selectors what they wanted to see.Smith looked in terrific touch when using his feet against the spin of Simon Kerrigan, but less so against pace and he was yorked by Stokes on 18. Watson had also hinted at fine form and crunched three boundaries from one Kerrigan over, forcing him down the ground with cross-batted swipes and a loft over mid-off, and he also slog-swept him for a cleanly-struck six. But on 45, Watson picked out fine leg with a hook off Harris and it was another case of looking good but getting out.Warner had also played some encouraging drives before he came down the pitch and was stumped for 35 when Kerrigan squirted the ball wider. His opening partner, Cowan, was more circumspect and scored his only boundary with a cut through point when Kerrigan dropped short and his innings ended on 17 when he edged behind off Liam Plunkett, who came around the wicket and got a delivery to straighten down the line.Stokes was the most impressive of the England Lions bowlers, collecting 2 for 27 and having a catch put down that should have been his third – Wade was on 3 when his cut to gully was spilled by Plunkett. Stokes bowled with sharp pace and was always at the batsmen, although by the end of the day Wade and Faulkner were looking comfortable during their unbeaten 67-run stand.Earlier, England Lions had declared on their overnight score of 269 for 7 after morning drizzle reduced the first session to 75 minutes. Bad light prevented a result but an Australian win would have done little to hide their ongoing batting issues ahead of The Oval Test.