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Once again bad light cut short proceedings at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Not before India reached 195/4, taking a 56 run lead thanks to a sparkling century from Sachin Tendulkar. The little master chalked up his first ever Test ton at India’s biggest venue, the 31st of his career and saved India from slipping into a precarious position. With just one day left, an outright result looks improbable, if not entirely unlikely.To be honest though, it was a day of high excitement. The first two and a half hours in particular kept the crowds on their seats, yelling, shouting and urging the home team on. As many as eight wickets fell in the first session of the fourth day’s play.India’s spinners helped the hosts claw their way back into the game reducing West Indies from 446/5 to 497 all out. India, responding to a deficit of 139 managed 51/3 at lunch.Sourav Ganguly opened the bowling with Virender Sehwag and watched in dismay as the first ball was creamed to the cover fence. Just two balls later however, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (140 runs, 258 balls, 17 fours, 1 six) cut a long hop straight to Harbhajan Singh at point. Chanderpaul equaled his highest Test score, reaching the same mark he set against India at Guyana in the last series.Twenty-one year old Marlon Samuels cracked his maiden Test century but was out soon after. Samuels (104 runs, 183 balls, 10 fours) poking at a ball from Harbhajan only managed an edge to the on side that Sehwag snapped up sharply. The middle-order has won praise from all quarters for the manner in which he batted. While being effective, Samuels was elegant. His shot selection was spot on for the duration of his stay out in the middle.After the fall of Samuels’ wicket the tail folded up meekly. Anil Kumble snapped up Darren Powell (0) and Jermaine Lawson (5) albeit with some help from umpire Asoka de Silva who upheld an lbw shout that would have certainly slipped down the leg side.Harbhajan ended with 5/115 and West Indies were all out for 497. Kumble, with 3/169 managed to salvage some lost pride.In response, India got off to the worst possible start as Sanjay Bangar edged the first ball of the innings – delivered by Merv Dillon to Chanderpaul at third slip. Bangar has been a font of solidity and strength at the top of the order and his dismissal so early on gave the West Indies the perfect boost.Virender Sehwag after cracking two handsome boundaries in a seven-ball ten watched in disbelief as a clever bit of thinking cleaned him up. Planting a fielder at leg slip, Dillon dug a delivery in short on the pads. Taking the bait Sehwag glanced and the ball landed in the Chanderpaul’s lap at the aforementioned position.Rahul Dravid, batting beautifully on 17 was cut short once again for no fault of his. When he inside edged Darren Powell onto his pads the loud shout for lbw was upheld by umpire de Silva. A shocking decision, and ironically, almost an action replay of the one David Shepherd handed Dravid in the first innings.The period between lunch and tea was one of consolidation for India. From 49/3 India inched their way to 141/4 at tea. The only wicket that fell was that of Sourav Ganguly, and Tendulkar took charge of proceedings for his part, from his end.Very early in the session Ganguly fell. Bowling over the wicket to the left hander, Cameron Cuffy got a delivery to pitch just a fraction outside the leg stump and Ganguly was rapped on the pad. The ball did not straighten at all and would have certainly missed the off stump. Nevertheless umpire Asoka de Silva saw it fit to send the Indian captain packing for 16.From then on Tendulkar took charge. A flurry of trademark strokes hammered into advertising hoardings around the ground. None better than that copybook on drive where Tendulkar managed to pick the ball up from just outside the off stump and punch it back past the bowler to the on side.It has been said innumerable times in the past, most loudly by his critics, that Tendulkar fails to make runs when India needs it the most. Today, when the chips were down, Tenbdulkar came up with the goods. Not being altogether destructive, or indeed too defensive, Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 114 (195 balls, 17 fours) as the players walked off the field.The first to congratulate Tendulkar was VVS Laxman. It is difficult to reliably define the value of Laxman in this Indian side. When the batting is firing well, he seldom gets a chance to showcase his wares at number six. When early wickets fall, he is under pressure and often has to shepherd the tail. Today, despite the pressure, the Hyderabadi stylist had Tendulkar for company. Realising his role early on, Laxman was content to play second fiddle, scoring a patient unbeaten 30 (105 balls, 4 fours) in a partnership of 108 for the fifth wicket.Actually, there is one way of clearly judging how valuable Laxman is. If he had gone for a first-ball duck, India would have been 87/5. Tendulkar would have had to contend with a deficit of 52 runs, with only Parthiv Patel and the tail for company. The game might well have been all over for India.Back to reality from the land of speculation. The game is not up. Funnily enough, it is still wide open.

Wed 23rd April CCh Kent (away) 4 DaysSun 27th April NCL Kent (away) 1 DayWED 30TH APRIL CCh ESSEX GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSSUN 4TH MAY NCL GLAMORGAN GRACE ROAD 1 DAYMon 5th May NCL Gloucestershire (away) 1 DayWed 7th May C & G Northumberland (away) 1 DayFRI 9TH MAY UNIV L’ BOROUGH UCCE GRACE ROAD 3 DAYSWed 14th May CCh Surrey (away) 4 daysSUN 18TH MAY NCL YORKSHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYWED 21ST MAY CCh MIDDLESEX GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSWed 28th May C & G (P) *** C & G Trophy *** 1 DaySUN 1ST JUNE NCL GLOUCESTERSHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYWed 4th June CCh Lancashire (away) 4 DaysTues 10th June or Wed 11th C & G (P)*** C & G Trophy *** 1 DaySAT 14TH JUNE TOU PAKISTAN GRACE ROAD 1 DAYSun 15th June NCL Worcestershire (away) 1 DayMON 16TH JUNE * 20 YORKSHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYWed 18th June * 20 Durham (away) 1 DayFRI 20TH JUNE * 20 LANCASHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYSat 21st June * 20 Nottinghamshire (away) 1 DaySun 22nd June NCL Yorkshire (away) 1 DayTUES 24TH JUNE * 20 DERBYSHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYFRI 27TH JUNE CCh NOTTINGHAMSHIRE GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSWED 2ND JULY CCh WARWICKSHIRE GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSSUN 6TH JULY TOU INDIA ‘A’ GRACE ROAD 1 DAYWed 9th July CCh Middlesex (away) 4 DaysSUN 13TH JULY NCL WORCESTERSHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYTUES 15TH JULY CCh SUSSEX GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSat 19th July * 20 (P)*** 20 overs Trophy Final *** 1 DayWed 23rd July CCh Essex (away) 4 DaysSun 27th July NCL Essex (away) 1 DayWED 30TH JULY CCh LANCASHIRE GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSSUN 3RD AUGUST NCL WARWICKSHIRE GRACE ROAD 1 DAYThurs 7th August or Sat 9th C & G (P)*** C & G Trophy *** 1 DaySUN 10TH AUGUST NCL ESSEX GRACE ROAD 1 DAYWed 13th August NCL (F) Warwickshire (away) 1 DayThurs 14th August CCh Warwickshire (away) 4 DaysWED 20TH AUGUST NCL (F) SURREY GRACE ROAD 1 DAYTHUR 21ST AUGUST CCh SURREY GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSTues 26th August CCh Nottinghamshire (away) 4 DaysSat 30th August C & G (P) *** C & G Trophy *** 1 DayTues 2nd September NCL (F) Glamorgan (away) 1 DayWED 10TH SEPTEMBER CCh KENT GRACE ROAD 4 DAYSSUN 14TH SEPTEMBER NCL KENT GRACE ROAD 1 DAYWed 17th September CCh Sussex (away) 4 DaysSun 21st September NCL Surrey (away) 1 DayF = FLOODLIT MATCH P = POSSIBLE MATCHOAKHAM SCHOOL FIXTURE TO BE FINALISED.

KARACHI, Sept 4: The Pakistan team for this month’s ICC Champions Trophy is expected to be changed in the backdrop of recent performances in Nairobi.A meeting of the selectors has been convened by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board in the next 48 hours to make the necessary changes.The selectors are expected to meet sometime early next week as the tournament begins Sept 12 with the opener between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The winner will be guaranteed a place in the semifinals as the other team in the group is Holland.Indications are that Misbah-ul-Haq, who was initially overlooked for the Colombo competition, would be included in place of Imran Nazir who has been a complete flop in the last four weeks.Shoaib Malik’s place also appears to be under threat as off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is expected be recalled. It may be added here that Saqlain was keen to play in Colombo but was overlooked after he refused to tour Nairobi to look after his wife who is expecting a baby.However, if Saqlain fails to get the selectors nod, wrist spinner Danish Kaneria might be drafted in. Kaneria was initially recommended by the team management for the Champions Trophy. He was, nevertheless, not included in the 14-man squad.The selectors will also be taking a decision on Inzamam-ul-Haq who has missed three matches in the ongoing triangular tournament because of a bad knee.

A red-hot Mitchell Marsh spoilt Aaron Finch’s dazzling Melbourne Renegades return as Perth Scorchers maintained their all-win record in this year’s BBL with a 21-run victory at Marvel Stadium.Marsh continued his purple patch with the bat, scoring a furious 53-ball 86 to power Scorchers to their highest-ever away total – 206 for 5.In his first match since leading Australia to T20 World Cup glory, Finch scored a 43-ball 68 and combined with Nic Maddinson in Renegades’ record second-wicket stand of 130.But Marsh produced more heroics to claim the scalp of Maddinson and Finch departed shortly after as the gallant Scorchers fell short.Marsh and Evans dominate Scorchers bowlers
Scorchers suffered a blow when the in-form Kurtis Patterson, who has been a revelation as an opener, was sidelined with a left quad injury. It meant Scorchers had their fourth different opening combination in a row, with a returning Cameron Bancroft opening with Josh Inglis.Inglis fell in the second over to James Pattinson, but that brought Marsh to the crease and the T20 World Cup hero again put on a show. After surviving an early chance, the former Scorchers skipper put the foot down with a blistering assault on Pattinson, who strayed on to the pads.Kane Richardson was the only Renegades bowler to make an impact•Getty Images

Marsh took a liking to the short boundaries square of the wicket and targeted in-form spinner Zahir Khan for special treatment as he powered to a 30-ball half-century. At the other side, a pumped-up Colin Munro, a centurion against Adelaide Strikers, hit an astonishing first-ball six after charging Will Sutherland, but lost momentum amid Marsh’s whirlwind.Marsh appeared a certainty to score his second BBL ton in three innings but fell to a loose shot in the 16th over to give Renegades hope.But impressive English import Laurie Evans batted superbly at the death, and fittingly ended a dominant Scorchers innings with a last-ball six as the league leaders recorded their second-highest score in franchise history.Fraser-McGurk and Zahir have a rough time
Jake Fraser-McGurk probably has the best catch of the BBL season wrapped up after his stunning one-hander on the boundary against Strikers. But cricket is a great leveller, and so it proved for the youngster, who dropped Marsh on the boundary when on 3. Marsh’s powerful pull shot would have hit Marvel Stadium’s roof had it been shut, but instead it travelled high into the sky making it awkward for Fraser-McGurk, who was distracted by the boundary rope and spilt the catch.Zahir, who has been arguably the best spinner in the BBL, struggled for the first time this season to finish with poor figures of none for 45 off his four overs. Only the experienced Kane Richardson – with his canny use of slower balls – was able to somewhat weather the storm and he was rewarded with the wickets of Marsh and Munro.Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson put up 130 runs for the second wicket•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Finch returns in style
Renegades needed a strong four-over powerplay and the early dismissal of youngster Mackenzie Harvey – bowled by a gem from Jason Behrendorff – brought together their two main stars. And Finch and Maddinson gave them hope with audacious batting to smash 47 off the powerplay.Finch, who had started his innings with a fluent straight drive, didn’t look rusty after his recovery from a knee injury with consecutive sixes off Tymal Mills in the fourth over lighting a fuse. Finch clearly had not lost his touch and in trademark fashion, he was perfectly still at the crease and swinging baseball style in a vintage performance. He clubbed 20 runs off Andrew Tye during the second power-surge over as Renegades sniffed a stunning heist.But Maddinson, who had a reprieve on 49, fell to Marsh and Renegades’ momentum was halted. The match was effectively over when Finch fell to Ashton Agar in the 16th over, but last-placed Renegades would be buoyed by the return of their ex-skipper.Scorchers attack finally put under pressure
Scorchers’ bowlers have been irresistible this season, with the most runs scored off them before this match just 151 by Brisbane Heat in their season opener. But even such a disciplined attack can look ragged and helpless when Finch and Maddinson are on song.For a while, they had no answers and looked rattled. But, in trademark fashion, they held their nerve and the game turned through a brilliant one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Inglis to dismiss Maddinson.

David Lloyd, the Sky Sports commentator and former England coach, has issued an apology to Azeem Rafiq and the wider Asian cricket community, after admitting to a text message exchange in which he had questioned Rafiq’s personal life and called into question the community’s willingness to participate in the social side of club cricket.Speaking at a parliamentary hearing in Westminster on Tuesday, Rafiq spoke about the sport’s response to his allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire, and accused “high-profile media people”, including Lloyd, of engaging in “denial, briefings, cover-ups, smearing” to damage his credibility.”It’s clear the problem is there,” Rafiq said. “Everyone’s known it for a very long time. I think it’s been an open secret. As I’ve seen over the last 15 months, if you speak out your life is going to be made hell – and there’s no doubt my life [has been made hell].”I sat in front of national TV and talked about the dark places this whole episode has got me into and what’s happened since then? Denial, briefings, cover-ups, smearing.”High-profile media people messaging other members of the media who supported me saying stuff like, ‘The club houses are the life blood of a club and Asian players don’t go in there’, ‘Getting subs out of Asian players is like getting blood out of stone’.Related

• David Lloyd announces retirement from commentary after 22 years with Sky Sports

• Live Blog – Parliamentary inquiry into Yorkshire racism investigation

• Azeem Rafiq: Joe Root's comments about not seeing racism at Yorkshire were 'hurtful'

• Yorkshire 'covered up' Gary Ballance drugs tests

• Yorkshire CCC is institutionally racist, admits former chair Roger Hutton

“And then personally this guy doesn’t even know me, has never spent any time with me, is talking about my personal drinking, going out and socialising.”That was David Lloyd, he’s been an England coach, commentator, and I found it disturbing because Sky are supposedly doing this amazing work on bringing racism to the front and within a week of me speaking out that’s what I got sent to me.”And I thought, ‘Gosh, there’s some closet racists and we need to do something about it’.”Responding on Twitter, Lloyd, 74, acknowledged that he had made an error of judgement in making such generalisations, and pledged to work harder to “make cricket a more inclusive sport”.”In October 2020, I had a private message exchange with a third party involved in cricket, about a number of topics,” Lloyd wrote. “In these messages, I referred to allegations about Azeem Rafiq which I had heard from within the game. I also made some comments about the Asian cricket community.”I deeply regret my actions, and I apologise most sincerely to Azeem and to the Asian cricket community for doing this, and for any offence caused. I am strongly committed to making cricket a more inclusive sport.”It is very obvious now that more work needs to be done and I will do everything I can to remove discrimination from the sport I love, and the sport that has been my life for over 50 years.”

Mickey Arthur is an excellent manager of players. This, essentially, is Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s take-away after two years under this coach.Arthur had spent much of the pandemic in Sri Lanka while borders were closed, and has had a number of public endorsements from his players, including Karunaratne and Wanindu Hasaranga. He is, however, leaving Sri Lanka for a “head of cricket” role with Derbyshire, despite having wanted to stay on.