Tourists suffer innings defeat inside three days

Scoreboard

India 1st innings

Rohit Sharma b Pat Cummins 120

Lokesh Rahul c&b Todd Murphy 20

Ravichandran Ashwi lbw Todd Murphy 23

Cheteshwar Pujara c Scott Boland b Todd Murphy 7

Virat Kohli c Alex Carey b Todd Murphy 12

Suryakumar Yadav b Nathan Lyon 8

Ravindra Jadeja b Todd Murphy 70

Srikar Bharat lbw Todd Murphy 8

Axar Patel b Pat Cummins 84

Mohammed Shami c Alex Carey b Todd Murphy 37

Mohammed Siraj Not Out 1

Extras: 6b 1lb 3nb 0pen 0w 10

Total: (139.3 overs) 400 all out

Fall of Wickets : 1-76 Rahul, 2-118 Ashwin, 3-135

Pujara, 4-151 Kohli, 5-168 Yadav, 6-229 Sharma, 7-240

Bharat, 8-328 Jadeja, 9-380 Shami, 10-400 Patel

Bowling : Pat Cummins 20.3 - 3 - 78 - 2 (1nb)

Scott Boland 17 - 4 - 34 - 0 (1nb),

Nathan Lyon 6 4 13 126 1, Todd Murphy 4712 - 124 - 7 ( 1nb),

Marnus Labuschagne 5 0 24 0 4.80

Matthew Renshaw 1 0 7 0 7.00

AUSTRALIA 2nd innings

Usman Khawaja c Virat Kohli b Ravichandran Ashwin 5

David Warner lbw Ravichandran Ashwin 10

Marnus Labuschagne lbw Ravindra Jadeja 17

Steven Smith Not Out 25

Matthew Renshaw lbw Ravichandran Ashwin 2

Peter Handscomb lbw Ravichandran Ashwin 6

Alex Carey lbw Ravichandran Ashwin 10

Pat Cummins c Srikar Bharat b Ravindra Jadeja 1

Todd Murphy c Rohit Sharma

Nathan Lyon b Axar Patel 2 b Mohammed Shami 8

Scott Boland lbw Mohammed Shami 0

Extras: 0b 1lb 4nb 0pen 0w 5

Total: (32.3 overs) 91 all out

Fall of Wickets: 1-7 Khawaja, 2-26 Labuschagne, 3-34

Warner, 4-42 Renshaw, 5-52 Handscomb, 6-64 Carey, 7-67 Cummins, 8-75 Murphy, 9-88 Lyon, 10-91 Boland

Bowling: Mohammed Shami 4.3 - 1 - 13 - 2 (2nb), Ravichandran Ashwin 12 - 3 - 37 - 5, Mohammed

Siraj 1- 1 - 0 - 0.

Ravindra Jadeja 12- 3 - 34 - 2 - 2. (2nb)

INDIA beat Australia by an innings and 132 runs inside three days in the first Test of their four-match series.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 5-37 as the tourists, needing 223 to make India bat again, were bowled out for 91 in their second innings in Nagpur.

Steve Smith was left unbeaten on 25 as Australian wickets tumbled around him.

India, who began the day on 321-7, were eventually bowled out for 400, debutant Aussie spinner Todd Murphy taking two more wickets to finish with 7-124.

It was Australia's lowest Test total in India - their previous worst was 93, made in a 13run defeat in Mumbai in 2004.

Opener Usman Khawaja was caught by Virat Kohli for five off Ashwin in only the second over of Australia's second innings, which quickly unravelled from there.

Marnus Labuschagne was trapped lbw by Ravindra Jadeja for 17 in the 11th over, while David Warner made it to 10 before falling the same way to Ashwin to leave Australia 34-3.

The tourists lost their final seven wickets for 57 runs as the innings was wrapped up in just under two hours.

Ashwin, who picked up his 31st five-wicket haul in 89 Tests, finished with match figures of 8-79.

Slow left-armer Jadeja, who took 2-34 in the second innings, was later fined 25% of his match fee and had one demerit point added to his disciplinary record after admitting a breach of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) code of conduct during Australia's first innings.

The 34-year-old was punished for applying a soothing cream to swelling on the index finger of his bowling hand without asking for permission from the on-field umpires.

An ICC statement read: "The match referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes.

"The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently it did not change the condition of the ball."

The series will help determine qualification for the final of the World Test Championship, which will be held at The

Oval this summer.

Australia and India are the top two sides in the rankings and the World Test Championship standings with India needing at least a 3-1 victory to guarantee qualification for the showpiece final.

Cummins' side, who are currently top of the standings, only need to draw one of the four Tests to guarantee their place.

India captain Rohit Sharma, whose 120 helped set up the win, said: "When playing a series like this, it's important to start well. I'm happy I could put up a performance which could help the team."

The second Test begins on Friday, 17 February, in New Delhi.(BBC Sport)

Atlantic Marine Suppliers Inc/ Suzuki Motor Cycles T20s

MSC, Police remain unbeaten as GCA’s 2nd Division cricket resumes

By Sean Devers

ON a day blessed with glorious sunshine, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Atlantic Marine Suppliers Inc/ Suzuki Motor Cycles T20s second division T20 cricket tournament resumed yesterday with seven matches at four venues.

At Everest, in the morning game, Malteenoes beat Third Class by nine wickets at the best looking venue of the round.

Third Class were bowled out for 75 in 19.4 over with Ryan Seecharran scoring 31 with two boundaries but when he was caught at longon trying to go over the top to off-spinner Ncohoisi Barker, only Gopaul Ramgobin (11) got into double figures.

Barker had 4-10, and was on a hat-trick while Marcus Watkins bowled well for MSC who reached 78-1 in 8.4 overs to remain unbeaten in zone ‘A’.

Judel McAllister was unbeaten on 36 with four fours and six; with him was Jerimiah Scott on 33 with three fours and six.

At Bourda: Bel Air Rubis beat Sophia by nine wickets

AUSTRALIA made an ominous start to their Women's T20 World Cup campaign by thrashing New Zealand by 97 runs.

After setting an imposing target of 174, the twotime defending champions bowled out the White Ferns for 76.

Megan Schutt dismissed Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine for golden ducks in the first over before spinner Ashleigh Gardner took 5-12.

Opener Alyssa Healy hit 55, captain Meg Lanning a majestic 41 and Ellyse Perry 40 in Australia's 173-9.

The world-class trio laid a platform, meaning Australia still reached their large total despite losing 5-19 in the closing overs.

They leap straight to the top of the Group A standings, above Sri Lan- with Shamal Angel leading the way with five fours and three sixes in 41.

He got support from Raffel Singh (30), Azeem Azeez (20) and Rayad Latif (17*)

Anthony Smith and Zameer Ishan picked up two wickets each for GDF, who could only reach 115-8 when their 20 overs expired.

Leon Andrews made 30 which included three sixes and a four while Ishan scored 24 with two fours and two sixes.

GSCL Republic softball set for Queen’s College ground today

Lord and Krsna Singh had two wickets as the ‘Bourda boys’ won by 89 runs.

At QC, Police rattled up the day’s highest total with a magnificent 98 from 48 balls with six fours and nine sixes from Lennox Andrews, who led the Cops to 227-7 with Troy Benn contributing 31.

after reaching 96-1 in 13.4 overs chasing Sophia’s 92 from 18.5 overs.

Kish DaSilva made 35 with two fours and a couple of sixes but only Ray Skeete (14) reached double figures as Ajay Gainda (3-12), Travis Persaud (2-19) and Mahendra Jeenarine (3-12) took the wickets for Bel Air Rubis who galloped to 91-in 13.4 overs, on a slightly heavy outfield.

In the other morning encounter at QC, Transport Sports Club (TSC), playing in their first of two matches yesterday, reached 178-6

In the afternoon games which were played at Everest, Bourda and TCS grounds, West Indies U-19 Batter Mavindra Dindyal, watched by a good size gathering at the GCC Pavilion, stroked a classy undefeated 77 from 56 balls decorated with six fours and two sixes. He was backed up by Thaddeus Lovell (23) and Martin Pestano Belle (16) as GCC reached 147-7.

Rickford Mohammed had 3-17 while burly off-spinner Quacy Cummings, in the mould of Rakeem Cornwall, had 2-30 in an impressive spell.

Diplomats fell for 66-6 in their 20 overs with Dellon Collins making 26 as Devon ka who beat hosts South Africa on Friday.

Vickash Jaikaran, Gary Ross and Tuen Hicks took two wickets each for QC who were restricted to 135-8. Jonte Thomas top scored with 46 with one four and six sixes while Ronaldo McGarrell supported with 26.

Kelvin Leitch took 2-40 as Police remained unbeaten in the other zone.

At the TSC ground under blue skies, Angel followed up his 41 in the morning game, with an impressive unbeaten 93 laced with six fours and eight sixes from just 46 balls but only Adrian Hinds (17) of the other batters passed 15.

Dante DeAbreu had 3-39 for Agricola who were limited to 63-8 in a game that was reduced to 15 overs per side, despite 30 from Nasrudeen Ally. Myhiem Khan had 2-18 for TSC who won twice yesterday.

THE Queen’s College ground, Thomas Lands, Georgetown is expected to be abuzz today when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc stages its much-anticipated annual Republic Cup softball tournament. Like in previous years, the trophies are being sponsored by Trophy Stall through its generous proprietor, Ramesh Sunich.

Four teams – Regal, Success, Ariel and Mahaica Rangers will battle for supremacy in the Over-40 category in what is expected to be a heated affair. The draw for the two semi-finals will be made before the 10.00 hrs start. According to GSCL president, Ian John, the Over50 division will be contested next weekend due to the availability of teams.

With the Orlando Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournament set for March 17, 18 and 19 in Orlando, Regal, who have been ruling the roost in the Over-50 category both at home and abroad, will take the opportunity to showcase several of their Over-50 players, the only division they will be participating in this time around.

Among those expected to don the Regal colours today are skipper, Mahendra Hardyal, David Harper, Rudolph Baker, Eric Thomas and Chien Gittens, the regular Over40 captain.

The huge margin of New Zealand's defeat severely dents their hopes and boosts the chances of the Proteas, given the damage inflicted on the White Ferns' net run-rate which will separate teams who finish level on points.

Australia make dominant start

Australia have won five of the last six editions of this competition and, having won the Ashes, the 50-over World Cup and Commonwealth Games in 2022, have become one of the dominant teams in world sport.

They suffered a shock loss to Ireland in a warmup game earlier this week but the emphatic margin of this victory squashed any thought that they are anything but huge favourites in South Africa.

Their batting line-up is fearsome. Their bowling is high-class and varied.

Megan Schutt began with five wides but bowled Suzie Bates, who tried an ambitious scoop off her stumps, a ball later and then trapped Devine lbw. That all but ended the contest and afterwards a ruthless showing from all seven bowlers used followed, Gardner stealing the headlines with her accurate off-spin and her first international five-wicket haul.

With the bat, Australia lost opener Beth Mooney to a stunning leaping catch by Eden Carson in the first over but afterwards Healy and Lanning found the boundaries at will in a dominant stand of 70 from 54 balls.

Lanning was bowled by a googly from Kerr but

Perry took on the scoring, hitting two sixes in her imperious 22-ball knock.

The worry for the rest of the competition is Australia's batting has room for improvement. They looked on course for an even bigger total at 1484 after 16.2 overs before a slide of wickets which included a sloppy run-out and a succession of catches offered to deep fielders by the lower middle order.

"Someone is going to have [to]play very well to beat Australia," former England spinner Alex Hartley said.

"They did show slight weaknesses today. They should have got up about 180-190, and could have got 200 at one stage.

"But we are clutching at straws. They are a very strong side."

Trophies will be awarded to the winning and runner-up teams and the man-of-the-match in the final.

GCB announces postponement of competitions due to inclement weather

THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has taken a decision to postpone Tournaments that were scheduled to commence in February 2023. The tournaments include the GCB/Republic Bank Under-23 Inter-Club Knock Tournament (Super-50), GCB Senior Inter-County Tournament (Women), and the GCB Under-17 Inter-County.

The Senior Inter-County Four-Day Tournament is tentatively scheduled to be played from February 25, 2023, during the break of the West Indies Championship, which is currently in progress.

The most recent inclement weather has caused the delay in the preparation of the grounds marked for this tournament forcing the Guyana Cricket Board to make this decision. The new dates for the tournament will be announced shortly.

(Press Release by the Guyana Cricket Board)