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Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNicholas Standford smashed five fours and a six in his second consecutive unbeaten 40•Peter Della Penna

Fahad Babar and Akeem Dodson’s 65-run opening stand in 48 balls – their best partnership of the tournament – followed by an unbeaten 40 by Nicholas Standford knocked off Papua New Guinea by 18 runs in the last Group A match at Malahide. PNG’s second straight loss denied them an automatic berth reserved for the first-placed team in the group and they slipped down to fourth after Hong Kong’s victory over Namibia, while Ireland secured their spot in the 2016 World T20.PNG captain Jack Vare sent USA in to bat, but a tired bowling attack – playing their third match in as many days – did not respond to the decision, and USA reached 56 in the Powerplay, setting a platform for their score of 147. Babar crunched three boundaries off Norman Vanua in the fifth over and Dodson pulled two boundaries past fine leg and a six over square leg in the sixth, bowled by Willie Gavera.Playing just his second match of the tournament, Chad Soper finally broke the stand in the eighth over, getting Babar to spoon a catch to Assad Vala at cover for 30. Dodson was lbw for 38 three overs later playing down the wrong line to Mahuru Dai’s offspin.The innings slowed down as PNG’s spinners tied down Alex Amsterdam. With pressure building, Japen Patel tried to increase the run rate but was bowled by Charles Amini for 20. Adil Bhatti, promoted ahead of Standford, was dismissed for 1, leaving USA at 102 for 4 in the 17th over.Standford – who was awarded Man of the Match against Hong Kong on Saturday for an unbeaten 40 – faced 17 of the 23 deliveries left in the innings but was fortunate to survive two chances in a chaotic 18th over. A skied chance on 11 was spilled by a diving Vala running from cover to mid-off. Amsterdam fell on the next ball for 13 caught at short third man after slicing a drive.The following delivery, Standford got a waist high full toss from the legspinner Amini which he pulled to long-on for an easy catch but a no-ball was signaled for height. Standford blasted the free-hit over extra cover, then followed it up with two more fours over square leg and point to end an 18-run over.Naseer Jamali sacrificed himself after a calamitous mix-up at the end of the 19th over, allowing Standford to remain at the crease for the final over. He struck two more fours, a thin edge past the keeper and a scoop over fine-leg, to take USA to a defendable total.During the innings break, the public address announcer at Malahide had announced that Hong Kong made 197 at Clontarf against Namibia, effectively killing any hopes USA had of going through to the knockout stage. Despite this information, USA produced a spirited effort in the field. Jamali struck the first blow, getting Tony Ura to slash to Hammad Shahid at third man.USA captain Muhammad Ghous produced his best bowling performance of the tournament, beating Lega Siaka in flight off his second delivery. Two overs later, he had Vala splicing a tame drive to Timil Patel at cover to leave PNG struggling at 21 for 3 in the fourth over. Shahid continued to apply pressure and snared Vare with a yorker to leave PNG at 42 for 4.Bhatti had Sese Bau caught at long-off in the 12th over before Timil claimed the next two wickets. Kila Pala was bowled attempting a heave while Dai picked out Shahid at long-on to make it 115 for 7 after 17.Two run outs accounted for wickets eight and nine and PNG went into the last over needing 27. Shahid gave away only eight runs, clinching the win for his side.Timil finished the group stage as USA’s leading wicket-taker and tied for third overall with 10 wickets. USA’s back-to-back wins against a pair of top-six ODI Associate nations showed the abundance of talent available in the country but unfortunately, it was too little too late.

Glenn McGrath was installed as Worcestershire’s Player of the Year after a defiant but ultimately unsuccessful bid to snatch promotion with victory over Northamptonshire at New Road.The Australian took eight for 41 – the second best return of his career – to dismiss the Second Division champions for 125 and become the leading bowler in the Championship with 76 wickets.But Worcestershire were unable to clutch the last straw when set to make 262 in 43 overs. They could only hold on for a draw at 119 for six with Ryan Driver unbeaten on 47 when bad light brought about an earlyclose.Openers Paul Pollard and Elliott Wilson to leg-side catches in the first two overs from Darren Cousins and Paul Taylor.The long-serving left-armer, Taylor, went on to take four of the first five wickets, including danger man Vikram Solanki, who played one big shot too many after racing to 30 out of 41.So Northamptonshire head for the top-flight while Worcestershire stay in the lower division – and with no McGrath to boost their chances next year. He will be touring with Australia before returning to the county in 2002.An all-action last day began with Worcestershire needing to add 61 to their overnight 50 for five if they were to head off the threat of the follow-on.This was achieved in quick time by David Leatherdale (46) and Steve Rhodes (42) before a declaration at 124 for seven presented Northants with a lead of 136 but only 80 overs in which to conjure up a result.The possibility of setting a target was taken out of their hands as McGrath bowled Adrian Rollins first ball and captured five for 31 in his first spell. Kevin Innes and Toby Baiiley then added precious runs before their tormentor returned to polish off the last three wickets in 11 balls.

Zimbabwe Cricket’s mounting debt problems came to a head on Tuesday afternoon, when the deputy sheriff in Harare impounded its Outside Broadcast van, as well as vehicles used by managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa and selector Givemore Makoni. The vehicles were seized as a result of ZC’s labour dispute with former employee Andrew Muzamhindo, who claims he is owed in excess of US$100,000.Muzamhindo was an executive in ZC’s commercial department for three years, helping to run their public relations and media departments, as well as securing sponsorship. He left the organisation in 2008, which was when an arbitration process began over money allegedly owed to him. The case went to the Labour Court, and ZC then appealed to the High Court, which ruled in Muzamhindo’s favour, with the result that in January 2013 the deputy sheriff attached office equipment and vehicles belonging to ZC. A failed appeal to the Supreme Court and delays in locating all attached property culminated in the most recent seizure of ZC property.”Justice always catches up with you, no matter how long it takes,” Muzamhindo told the . “All I want is what’s due to me. I don’t have anything against ZC. It’s unfortunate some people personalised the issue, they failed to separate between personal and business issues.”There is, however, some disagreement as to who the Outside Broadcast van actually belongs to. The vehicle, which was purchased by ZC almost nine years ago, was seized at the property of ZiFM Stereo, a local radio station. ZC spokesman Lovemore Banda told ESPNcricinfo, “ZiFM is the owner. It was taken from the owner’s property, not from here.”The , a local newspaper, claims it has seen documents which show that the OB van is still in ZC’s name, and ZiFM chief executive Susan Makore told the that “where it was has got nothing to do with ZiFM. ZiFM has never owned an OB van. However, the fact that it was towed from where it was might mean it’s not Zimbabwe Cricket property. But I don’t want to get myself into problems by commenting on other people’s business. Since it’s a matter involving ZC, you can get in touch with ZC officials.”A source close to ZiFM suggested to ESPNcricinfo that the radio station was in the process of purchasing the OB van, while ZC added to ESPNcricinfo that as this is a legal matter under due process, and therefore sub judice, they could not comment further.Douglas Chinawa, Muzamhindo’s lawyer, could not confirm whether or not ZiFM had been in the process of buying the van, but told ESPNcricinfo: “This has been a real struggle, and should have been resolved more than a year ago. It was only after a thorough search, with the deputy sheriff exercising due diligence to serve the writ of execution, that we were able to locate vehicles.” Local media claimed that fourteen other ZC vehicles will be attached by the deputy sheriff today, but Chinawa could not confirm the full extent of property to be seized.While the value of the van would be in the region of US$30,000-40,000, the cost of the Outside Broadcast equipment within it would push its value far higher. The van and other vehicles will now be sold at auction in order to cover the money owed by ZC. Supersport, the South African sports channel, manages the technical side of televising international cricket in Zimbabwe, and bring their own OB van with them. ZC’s van had rarely been used in recent years, being loaned on occasion to the state broadcaster ZBC and also being used occasionally for domestic cricket.In a dramatic turn of events, the deputy sheriff and bailiffs had to force their way into the lot where the OB van was being kept and then jump-start the vehicle, as ZiFM staff refused to hand over the keys. The van was being kept at a bonded warehouse officially owned by XCGM, a construction and mining equipment company. Supa Mandiwanzira, who was recently appointed minister of information communication technology, postal and courier services, is both XCGM’s chairman and the owner of ZiFM Stereo.ZC has been battling financial turmoil for several years now. When Ozias Bvute took over the organisation’s reins following Vince Hogg’s resignation in 2004, ZC was $10 million in the black. The 2012 audit of their accounts shows net liabilities of $14,267,152, and total liabilities of $19,081,421, while ZC’s debts totalled around $18million earlier this year.

ADELAIDE, Nov 29 AAP – Tasmanian all-rounder Daniel Marsh capped a wonderful game with bat and ball, taking the crucial wicket of South Australian centurion Greg Blewett to sew up a 22-run victory in their day-night ING Cup cricket match at Adelaide Oval tonight.In reply to Tasmania’s 6-282, SA made 7-260 with only some lusty hitting from SA wicketkeeper Graham Manou (56 not out from 33 balls) at the end of the innings preventing a much bigger Tigers win.Manou’s half-century came off just 29 balls, the fastest in the competition so far this season.But it came too late to detract from the superb performance of Marsh.The man of the match scored an unbeaten, inventive 62 off 50 balls at the tailend of Tasmania’s innings.He shared in a fifth wicket partnership of 92 off 77 balls with top-scorer Graeme Cunningham (77 off 77 balls) to push the Tigers to their huge total.SA looked competitive in its run-chase while skipper Blewett, who opened the innings, was at the crease.Blewett, who scored an unbeaten 109 in SA’s previous one-day match against Western Australia, made 102 from 123 balls with 13 boundaries tonight and guided the Redbacks to 4-158 in the 34th over.But Marsh, in his second over, drew a thick inside edge from an attempted lofted straight drive from Blewett and had him caught at midwicket to end SA’s hopes.None of the other batsmen in SA’s top seven reached 30, highlighting the lack of support for Blewett, who had scored almost two-thirds of his team’s runs at the time of his dismissal.Marsh also picked up the wicket of all-rounder Michael Miller near the end of the innings to finish with the excellent figures of 2-45 from nine overs.Opener Michael Dighton was another good performer for Tasmania with 60, while Shane Watson made 40 from 43 balls early in the Tigers’ innings and chimed in with 1-53 from 10 overs.Tasmanian opening bowler Damien Wright took 1-33 from 10 tight overs.Marsh said it had been a great comeback for the Tigers, after losing outright to New South Wales in a Pura Cup match in Hobart earlier in the week.”We came out and played really well, especially the batters played well today, and to win against South Australia away from home is a great effort from us,” Marsh said.”We were pretty confident when we got 280, I think it’s our highest ever score against the Redbacks, if we can’t defend that we’re going to struggle.”He said the wicket of Blewett was the key.”Greg Blewett batted particularly well and we were all pretty relieved when he got out,” he said”I was just trying to keep him to ones, stop the boundaries and try to tie up Mick Miller, who was batting at the other end.”Obviously the run-rate was going up and he had to play a risky shot, so lucky for me and the team he hit it straight to the fielder.”There were a few worrying moments when Graham Manou was hitting us around at the end there, but I think we were all pretty confident in the end.”

The ICC will hold a teleconference on Thursday to decide on whether the Champions Trophy should go ahead as scheduled in Pakistan or be shifted out to in case countries are not satisfied with the security situation there.A teleconference of the ICC executive board “will take place on Thursday to take a decision on Champions Trophy,” an ICC spokesperson told AFP.In a meeting in Dubai on Sunday, the teams were informed of the security arrangements made by Pakistan while it hosted the Asia Cup in June-July as well as its plans for the Champions Trophy, but failed to reach a consensus on the staging of the event.An official who attended the meeting on Sunday had pegged Pakistan’s chances at “50-50” with players from England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand expressing concerns about the security situation in Pakistan following the bomb blast in Islamabad on the night of the Asia Cup final in Karachi on July 6.

Cameron Cuffy’s place in the West Indies team for the forthcoming International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy isn’t altogether certain.In light of concerns over his fitness, chief selector Sir Vivian Richards confirmed yesterday that following an assessment by the selection panel over the next few days, a final determination will be made.A West Indies Cricket Board release later in the day, which outlined details of an agreement reached with the West Indies Players Association, mentioned that the team "will proceed to Sri Lanka on September 5 barring injuries".After a recent knee operation, the gangling Vincentian fast bowler made an unimpressive return to competitive cricket by playing in the last two preliminary matches of the Red Stripe Bowl.He hardly looked the part and often struggled when bowling and fielding.Cuffy is usually impeccable in line and length at regional level, but he went for 56 runs from his 10 overs on his first appearnce in the Bowl against Barbados a week ago.

Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson has once again spoken out strongly in support of the English summer game.Speaking at the County Ground he told me: "For a number of years several leading national media commentators have tried to state the case that interest and playing the game of cricket is dying. The facts that they choose to ignore do not support this view."In 2002 despite being relegated to the second division in both the county championship and the National League interest in Somerset County Cricket Club and cricket in general across the south west seems to be as strong as ever.Membership of Somerset topped the 7000 mark and the official club website received a record breaking 1.5 million hits during the month of August, with Ciderman supporters logging on from as far afield as Australia, Brazil, U.S.A. and Hawaii.Mr Anderson continued: "Cricket is very much alive and well in Somerset and the south west of England. This season over 7000 members joined the club and we enjoyed new record levels of hits on our website."Referring to a recent report from the ECB the he continued: "This document tells us that more adults and juniors are playing cricket in Somerset and Devon and Cornwall, where we also have a large number of members, than before,which is very good news for the Club."He concluded: How much longer do we have to put up with these people saying that the game of cricket is dying?"

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

An outstanding collective effort from England’s attack dismantled South Africa for 247 on the third day and left them following on at Lord’s. Monty Panesar took the bowling honours with four wickets during a spell which highlighted his importance to the team in this series, after the groundwork was laid by the trio of quicks who took out the top order. Only Ashwell Prince, with a fine century, provided substantial resistance and South Africa headed in again 346 behind.Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie, back out where they started the day, survived four overs against Panesar and Kevin Pietersen. There was some great by-play from Pietersen, who was still riding on the high of a rare Test wicket after he removed Dale Steyn to end the first innings in fading light. Pietersen ended with a huge shout against Smith and there were smiles allround, but Smith’s grins came through gritted teeth after another sobering day.Pace has been the buzzword leading into this series, of both South Africa’s abundance and England’s perceived lack of a cutting edge. However, England have been able to sit back quite contently in the knowledge that they hold the ace in the pack when it comes to spin and Panesar showed why. He teased out wickets with flight and spin, ripping one round McKenzie’s pads and another through the defences of Morne Morkel.Yet England’s quick bowlers laid down a few markers of their own. They have never pretended to possess the 90mph qualities of Steyn and co., but that is more than compensated for by home knowledge and guile. Whereas South Africa were short of variation, England’s trio each brought something different. James Anderson mixed swingers with cutters, Stuart Broad caused problems with his splice-jarring length and Ryan Sidebottom used his angle to remove the key obstacle of Jacques Kallis.Prince raised his game like few of his team-mates have been able to do over the last three days. He was the one member of the top-order with questions begin asked about his place after a highest score of 38 in eight innings. Here he showed all the fighting qualities that have become his trademark, but also expressed himself with some handsome boundaries. The hundred arrived off 173 deliveries and was greeted with a leap from Prince as he savoured the moment. However, the personal satisfaction of the achievement will be clouded the team’s predicament.England were on top of their game from the very start as they reduced South Africa to 47 for 3. Facing a total of almost 600 can make even the flattest pitches appear trickier and England’s attack immediately found more assistance from the surface. It was extra lift from a good length that did for Smith as a ball from Anderson climbed and took the shoulder of the bat. Smith’s expressions have grown less cheery from the moment he stuck England in, and he walked off with 251 fewer to his name than the last time he batted at Lord’s.

England’s attack had strong game plans for the top order. For Hashim Amla there was a clear policy of testing him against the short ball and he was forced onto the back foot Broad then exploited his tentativeness with a full delivery outside off. Sidebottom, after bringing a couple of deliveries back into Kallis, he pushed one wider and Kallis chased it. The edge flew low to the right of Andrew Strauss at first slip, who managed to get his fingers under the ball to ignite huge celebrations from England.McKenzie fought through the early setbacks, but fell in the second over after lunch when he failed to cover the line with his pad. The amount of turn from outside leg even caught Panesar by surprise. Even when the innings went quiet, with Prince and AB de Villiers adding the one substantial partnership of 70, Michael Vaughan kept control by blocking off the runs. Once the early hardness disappeared the quicks had to switch to different skills, and began searching for reverse swing, while Vaughan rotated his options. Anderson produced a tight spell as 16 runs came in a 12-over spell leading up to tea.England’s catching was in full working order, too, and Anderson pulled off a blinder at mid-on, diving full-length to his left, to remove de Villiers. Broad struck with the first ball of a comeback burst, then Panesar returned to the fore as he ripped one through Morkel following a teasing over. South Africa have a genuine tail and Paul Harris’ hack to mid-on – where Anderson pulled off his second fine catch – didn’t do Prince any favours.Prince at last found someone to stay with him as Steyn showed reliance against a predictable short-pitched barrage. Their 14-over partnership forced Vaughan to take the second new ball and, shortly after Prince reached three figures, Sidebottom found the outside edge. If South Africa are going to escape they need to learn Prince’s effort for the two days ahead.

Ireland are set to tie up a long-term association with the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) to enable reciprocal tours between the two counties starting in 2009.The agreement follows meetings between Paul Campbell, vice president of the JCA and representatives from Cricket Ireland, including chief executive Warren Deutrom and chairman David Williams during the recent ICC World Twenty20 Cup qualifying tournament in Belfast.”This is a wonderful opportunity for the players to experience cricket in a different climate and conditions,” said Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach and former West Indies allrounder. “They can only become better players for the experience, and I know how much they will enjoy returning to the scene of their marvellous exploits last year.”Deutrom added that Ireland hope to build on the support they received during the 2007 World Cup, when they were based in Jamaica during the first round.”Cricket Ireland believes that reciprocal relations between our two countries will not only assist in our cricketing development, but will also help us renew great friendships created during Ireland’s memorable World Cup through the Caribbean last year,” he said

North Division

Yorkshire, at least, will be relieved at the rain that brought their match at Derby to an untimely conclusion in the 22nd over, . The Derbyshire seamers had put their team well in the ascendancy, on course for another victory, but in the end it was the weather that had the last word.Yorkshire were put in to bat on a greenish pitch in a damp atmosphere, and were in trouble right from the start. Charl Langeveldt quickly found the conditions to his liking, whipping out Craig White, caught at slip for 1, and Anthony McGrath, caught at the wicket for 0; 6 for 2. Andrew Gale (11) chipped Graham Wagg low to mid-on to make it 23 for 3.Jacques Rudolph got his head down and fought it out, but Adam Lyth ignored the conditions and played some handsome drives, most notably a cover drive that was through the fielder before he could react effectively. His 18, a little cameo, came to a cruel end: he was hit a crippling blow in the box, and when he eventually decided he was fit to face up again, he was immediately bowled by a beauty from Tom Lungley.Shortly afterwards the rain came, and Derbyshire could only survey the dismal landscape with regret. Rudolph finished unbeaten with 14 and, had the rain stopped, he would have carried quite a weight on his shoulders.Stephen and Ben Harmison conspired for Durham to consign Scotland to a 38-run loss at Chester-le-Street. Fifties for Phil Mustard and Neil McKenzie lifted Durham to a useful 230 and as soon as Gavin Hamilton fell to Callum Thorp, the visitors started slipping – they slid from 22 for 1 to 51 for 5, the Harmisons doing most of the damage with three wickets apiece. Neil McCallum and Richard Berrington essayed a mini-rescue – McCallum was in good touch with 60 – but their efforts were, in the end, cosmetic.

South West Division

Gloucestershire and Hampshire got in some early Twenty20 practice at Bristol – and it was a thriller, Gloucestershire emerging winners and new table-toppers with two balls left. Somehow they picked themselves up from 15 for 3 and 27 for 4 – Shane Bond the chief wrecker with 3 for 11 from four overs – and gradually began to pick up the run-rate chasing 145 through Craig Spearman (67 from 44 balls) and Mark Hardinges, who made 49 not out off 44 deliveries. Michael Lumb topscored with 76 to push Hampshire to 144 for 6, while Jon Lewis shone with 3 for 17.Glamorgan continued a gloomy week at Swansea: after being crushed by Northamptonshire in the Championship, Worcestershire outplayed them on Sunday. The visitors restricted them to 135 for 9 from their revised 31 overs; hardly even a competitive Twenty20 total. Worcestershire made light work of the ask, losing only Steve Davies, Moeen Ali and Vikram Solanki, who made 69, as they completed the job comfortably with 17 balls remaining.

South East Division

Surrey wasted no time hunting down Essex‘s 215 in a match reduced to 40 overs, with their captain Mark Butcher and Usman Afzaal leading the charge in an unbroken 109-run stand, each reaching fifty, after Scott Newman’s half-century. James Benning also made 38. Varun Chopra’s 79 from as many balls was the platform from which Essex had built their total but even lower-order contributions from James Middlebrook and David Masters were not enough at Chelmsford and Surrey were home with 22 balls remaining.Middlesex‘s tie with Sussex called off very early at Southgate, leaving Sussex rooted to the bottom with only one win in six.

Midlands Division

The Midlands league was hardly the joy division, with both scheduled fixtures abandoned through rain without a ball bowled. Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire stay joint second in the Midlands Division after watching the rain at Northampton, while the wash-out between Warwickshire and Ireland at Edgbaston confirmed the sides’ status as the bottom two. The wooden spoon slot is yet to be determined.