South Zone defended a small target with enthusiasm and defeated North Zone by 30 runs in the league stage of the Deodhar Trophy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The result meant that West Zone were ensured of the title with two league games yet to be played.Put in to bat on a seaming, bouncy pitch, South Zone struggled from 82 for 5 to post a modest total of 191 in 44.3 overs. But their new-ball bowlers fought back superbly to skittle North Zone for 161 in 46.4 overs.South owed their decent score to a patient half-century from S Badrinath. Half their side, including captain VVS Laxman, had been packed off cheaply, by the North pace bowlers led by Delhi youngster Ishant Sharma (3 for 51).Badrinath and wicketkeeper Tilak Naidu (31) put on 44 runs to stem the rot before Ashish Nehra came back for his second spell to polish off the tail. He ended with 3 for 27.North Zone, who needed to win the match with a bonus point to keep their slim title hopes alive, lost their top half for 49 against the South Zone’s new-ball attack led by Andhra’s KS Sahabuddin. He snapped up two wickets in his sixth over and finished with 4 for 30. North Zone will take on East Zone on March 10 while South Zone will clash with West Zone in the last tie on March 11.
The Ranji Trophy one-day tournament finals between Uttar Pradesh and Railways, slated to be held at the K.D Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, will now be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2.Ratnakar Shetty, Executive Secretary-in-charge of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said that the unavailability of ground in Lucknow was the reason behind shifting the venue of the match.He said, “The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has written to the Indian Cricket Board that the state government is not releasing the ground for the match. So the match will now be held at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2.”However, cricket lovers in Kanpur vented their ire at the state government by burning the effigies of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Chief Minister and RK Chaudhary, the Sports Minister at Civil Lines area near the Green Park stadium today. Fans and cricketers criticised the government’s decision, saying it was against the interests of the game in state.
Titans 125 for 2 (Petersen 78*) beat Warriors 121 (Henderson 50) by 8 wickets Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFour suicidal run-outs from the Warriors cost them dearly as they collapsed from 99 for 2 after 14 overs to be bowled out for 121 with an over to spare, and the Titans cruised to an eight-wicket win in the final of the PRO20 Series at Centurion.Jonathan Kreusch and Burton de Wett had started the innings off well with a partnership of 34, before de Wett was caught for 15. Kreusch followed for 21 while Tyron Henderson continued hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. Three fours and four sixes enabled him to go to 50 off 25 balls before holing out at cover.Having just past the 100 mark, the Warriors lost the critical wicket of Arno Jacobs for 11, and a major collapse followed. In four overs they lost a further six wickets for the addition of only 19 runs.A target of 122 was never going to be enough against the strong Titans batting line-up. A good start was all that was needed and Alviro Petersen, later named as Master Blaster, and Goolam Bodi provided it by adding 81 in nine overs.Bodi, the silent partner, was bowled for 17 before Daryll Cullinan, in his final innings before retirement, was applauded off the field after making 7. That left Petersen and Justin Kemp to finish the match off with three overs to spare.Petersen, batting with a lot of maturity, rampaged to his half-century from 29 balls. With the victory in sight he reined himself in to finish not out on 78 from 62 balls. Kemp finished not out on 14.For Pieter Strydom, also announcing his retirement, the loss meant a career of six finals without winning a trophy.
Graham Thorpe picked up where he left off in the Trinidad Test and Geraint Jones recorded his maiden representative half-century, as England took control on the second day of their tour match against a Carib Beer XI at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados.Thorpe, whose first-innings 90 put England on course for victory in the second Test, once again missed out on a century as he was dismissed for 88 shortly before tea. But it was nonetheless a satisfactory warm-up for this week’s third Test, as England secured a first-innings lead of 218, after being bowled out for 347. Thorpe added 117 for the fifth wicket with Jones, England’s reserve wicketkeeper, who made the most of a rare outing with a finely crafted 66.Jones’s success with the bat was in stark contrast to his rival for the wicketkeeper’s role, Chris Read, who was playing as a specialist batsman after a run of low scores. His was the only wicket to fall in a sleepy morning session in which England added 85 runs to their overnight 121 for 3. After one emphatic pull for four, he snicked a thin edge to the keeper off Dave Mohammad for 9 (144 for 4).Five overs later, Thorpe should have been sent on his way as well when he was bowled by Ravi Rampaul, but it was a no-ball. Instead he knuckled down and ground his way towards a big score, tight as ever in defence but quick to latch onto anything loose.England’s progress was held up after lunch, as a heavy downpour swept across the ground. But when play finally resumed after an hour’s delay, Thorpe and Jones cracked 53 runs in just 11 overs to pile the pressure on the Carib Beer XI.
But with a hundred in his sights, Thorpe mis-timed a lofted drive off Tonito Willett, and was caught brilliantly in the deep by the substitute fielder. Jones then slapped Jermaine Lawson to cover to end a fine innings that had included five fours and three sixes, and had doubtless given the England selectors a timely nudge.Rikki Clarke enjoyed himself for a time, as he and Ashley Giles added 40 useful runs for the seventh wicket. But Lawson put the new ball to good use, removing Clarke for 35, courtesy of Sylvester Joseph’s catch, and Gareth Batty, trapped lbw for a duck (325 for 8). Giles himself then fell for 22, before Dave Mohammad wrapped things up with his third wicket of the innings.James Anderson made an early breakthrough in the Carib Beer XI’s second innings when Xavier Marshall was caught behind for 4, but Daren Ganga and Marshall reached the close on 51 for 1, a deficit of 167.
The preparations for the introduction of the new style membership cards at Somerset County Cricket Club are now complete, and members who have already joined for the 2003 season will by now have received their new cards.Over the last few days two computer engineers have been busy installing the swipe card computer system into the office at the County Ground and linking it up to the terminals that will be situated at each of the entrances.The work has been undertaken by Hogue 100, a Birmingham based company who have also successfully installed a similar system at Worcestershire’s headquarters at New Road Ground, at Sofia Garden’s in Cardiff the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and several other first class county grounds.Membership secretary Jo Arnold told me: "Under the health and safety regulations we need to know at any given time exactly how many people are inside the ground and now that members have to swipe both in and out, this system will give us that information .It will also tell us exactly who the members are that are inside the ground which will be good for us to know particularly for our marketing strategy."Jo continued: "Interestingly the first year that Worcestershire introduced their new swipe cards, the club reported a 250% increase in gate receipts."At present the membership secretary is busy putting the finishing touches to the new 2003 membership guide book that will explain how the swipe card system will work, and will list all first and second team fixtures along with other information including the vouchers that will be needed for getting tickets if the club reaches the final stages of any of the one day competitions.With an exciting season in prospect until the end of February membership of the club can cost as little as £92 and that entitles the member to free entry to watch 53 days of top class cricket, which is remarkably good value.In order to cope with the expected demand from new members and existing members trying to rejoin whilst the discounted rates still apply, the office at the County Ground will be opening on Saturday mornings throughout February.Details of membership can also be obtained by telephoning 01823 272946.
Most teams would feel fairly comfortable after posting 298-3 in 50 overs – but not if you are Hursley Park and the opposition is Hook & Newnham Basics !Hursley were optimistic their worrying Premier Division 3 standing – they have only won twice in six attempts – might be boosted after John Harris carried his bat for 124 to lead them to 298.And, when Basics promptly dropped to 10-2, Hursley Park skipper Rob Lowe thought he’d cracked it.But, when burly South African Janusz Kaminski joined Hook heavyweight Keith Lovelock – Basics reckon there’s 35 stone of batting muscle at the crease when the pair are together ! – the game changed dramatically.While left-arm spinner Chris Westbrook waited impatiently for a bowl, Hursley’s hopes disappeared in a crescendo of boundaries.Cape Town-based Kaminski smashed 11 sixes in his 147 out of a third-wicket stand of 220 with Lovelock, who went on to make 105 and carry Hook home at 301-3 – with eight overs to spare !Apart from Bashley (Rydal), who beat Waterlooville by 81 runs, it wasn’t a terribly successful day for the eight sides languishing in the lower echelons.Seemingly doomed United Services, without a win in seven tries, were blasted to defeat by Gosport’s Australian import Nathan Collins (6-30), while Winchester KS proved predictably too strong for Leckford.The Stockbridge club notched a season’s best 173 – Scotsman Mike Howard (61) top scoring – but Paul Marks (54) and Dave Parsons (43) swept WKS to the verge of a sixth straight win.Flamingos captain Gary Fenigan felt like jumping off the nearby South Parade Pier after Portsmouth II rallied from 57-7 to reach a winning 202-8 on a poor St Helen’s surface."I honestly didn’t sleep all night, agonising on what went wrong," said Fengian, whose 30th birthday co-incides with today’s visit of high-rising Alton to the Holt.Aussie teacher Shane Merkel (84) propped up Flamingos uncertain batting, but when Crestwood old boy Nick McMurray (5-35) reduced Portsmouth to 57-7, Fenigan thought his birthday had come a week early.But, as Flamingos ‘switched off’ in the field, so local university student Steve Mitchell (94 not out) and Gary Rogers (42 not out) turned the match on its head.Their unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 108 swept Portsmouth to an unexpected two-wicket win – and dumped worried Flamingos further into the mire.It wasn’t the first time Portsmouth’s lower order had sparkled this season – Rogers having featured in a last-gasp 161-run stand against Winchester KS earlier in the month.Equally beleaguered Lymington II copped an ill-timed run blast from Tony Richman, who smacked 103 off just 53 balls (32 scoring shots) – he hit six sixes and 11 fours – as Paultons piled up 329-8 (Duncan Park 51).A five-wicket spell from Peter Lamb and a 3-56 return by Paul Wilde sent Lymington sliding to 177 all out.After finishing fifth last season, Purbrook expected to feature in the promotion hunt.Instead, two wins – and four defeats – out of six has left them precariously placed.They did, though, show commendable spirit against St Cross Symondians after Brian Lipscombe (3-52), Jimmy Adams (2-40) and Matt Perry-Lewis (2-36) had Purbrook tottering at 137-8St Cross thought they were on an easy thing after posting 229-9 (Mark Parker 41), but Purbrook hit back to finish only two runs short at 227-8 after a 90-run stand between Graham McCoy (65) and Mark Stanley (36).But at least Bashley (Rydal) had something to celebrate – their 81-run victory pushed one-win Ville deep in trouble, just above United Services.Joe Hall’s unbeaten 82 and a typically flamboyant half-century by Iain Britton (52) sent Bashley to the home comforts of 265-6 (Matt Slater 5-62) before Martin Shephard (75) stiffened Ville’s resistance after four new-ball breakthroughs by John Marsh (4-50). Ville reached 184.It’s unusual for any of the Yates family to feature in a Rowledge victory – and sure enough Chris and cousin Ricky were to the fore in the 44-run defeat of New Milton.Ricky hit 74 (his best score for several years) as Rowledge reached 227-5 and Chris christened his return from Cardiff University with figures of 5-53.Hampshire YCs prospect David Wheeler hit a splendid 94 for New Milton, but with Aussie Tim Bott injured, the visitors fell 44 short at 183 all out.
After three years of second-place finishes in the Premier League, there’s a real sense of optimism that this year could finally be the one Arsenal end their title drought.
The Gunners have now gone a remarkable two decades without a top-flight triumph, with Mikel Arteta the closest manager post Arsène Wenger to ending such a drought.
However, they have often fallen at the final hurdle, on two occasions to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, whilst doing so to Liverpool in the 2024/25 campaign.
At present, Arteta’s men currently sit two points clear of the former as the season approaches the midway point, with their destiny certainly in their own hands.
The Spaniard would certainly write himself in the club’s history should he achieve such a feat, but he certainly has many people to thank for the recent revival in North London.
How Arsenal have become title favourites in 2025/26
The two previous Premier League seasons have presented glaring areas of improvement for Arsenal – squad depth in various areas and a focal point to lead the frontline.
During the summer window, Sporting Director Andrea Berta worked tirelessly to try and solve both issues, seemingly doing so to great effect at present.
The hierarchy landed the defensive additions of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, subsequently offering needed centre-back cover for William Saliba and Gabriel.
Arteta’s midfield department also received hefty back, as seen with the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Christian Norgaard – subsequently allowing Mikel Merino to operate as a number nine.
The Spaniard has continued his fine goalscoring form into the current season, already scoring five times across all competitions – including two in the Champions League.
However, he’s often acted as a backup to Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish international taking the iconic number 14 shirt after his £65m switch from Sporting CP.
Whilst he’s only netted six goals to date, he’s shown glimpses of being the talisman the Gunners have been lacking, as seen with his double against Atletico Madrid.
The Arsenal star who must now be axed by Arteta
Such investment was desperately needed if Arsenal were to mount a serious push for the Premier League title this season, with Arteta being handed all the tools he needs to achieve such success.
The fans now have a squad they can be proud of in their attempts to end such a drought, whilst also having the depth many teams would crave to help them cross the line.
However, the backing from the hierarchy has certainly made competition for places even harder – something which certainly isn’t a bad problem for a manager to have.
In essence, it should hand the players the extra motivation to nail down their places in the starting eleven, which should make the side an even bigger force to be reckoned with.
However, it appears to have had the opposite effect on winger Gabriel Martinelli, with the Brazilian currently enduring a season to forget under Arteta at the Emirates.
He arrived in England as an unknown quantity to many supporters, with the hierarchy forking out a reported £6m for his signature from Brazilian side Ituano.
Despite originally being signed to join the youth team, the attacker fought his way into the manager’s plans, even becoming a first-team regular and scoring ten goals in his debut year.
As a result, former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp even dubbed the attacker as the “talent of the century”, but it’s safe to say he’s failed to hit the heights many expected.
In 2025, he’s now racked up just shy of 250 appearances for the Gunners, scoring on 43 occasions, but he’s often come under fire for his inconsistency in attacking areas.
Arteta has preferred the likes of Leandro Trossard ahead of him in the pecking order this campaign, as seen by the Brazilian’s measly tally of just five league starts.
His underlying stats in the Premier League this season highlight his lack of positive impact, with the manager desperately needing to axe him from his long-term plans.
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The 24-year-old has completed just 72% of the passes he’s attempted, which currently ranks him within the bottom 10% of all other attackers in England’s top-flight.
Gabriel Martinelli – PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
12
Games started
5
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
72%
Dribbles completed
33%
Chances created
0.6
Times dispossessed
1.4
Successful crosses
0.4
Stats via FotMob
He’s also completed just 33% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst also registering just 0.6 chances created per 90 – further highlighting his lack of creativity in attacking areas.
Martinelli’s struggles are summed up in his tally of times dispossessed by the opposition per 90, currently losing the ball 1.4 times per game, the second highest of any player in the squad.
There’s no doubt the Brazilian is a player who massively relies on confidence to succeed, but unfortunately, his impressive performances are too far and between at the Emirates.
He’s been unable to deliver on a consistent basis over the last couple of months, which no doubt has led to the attacker struggling to nail down a regular starting role.
As a result, Arteta must look to axe the 24-year-old from his first-team plans, with a new left side forward needed to help bolster the club’s title credentials.
Bad news for Nwaneri: Arsenal have already agreed to sign their next Dowman
Nwaneri could have some serious competition for game time at Arsenal in the future.
2002-03 in South Africa There was scant encouragement for Bangladesh who wereemphatically beaten in both Tests and one-dayers, never offering SouthAfrica a convincing challenge. Makhaya Ntini warmed up with 10 wicketsat 10.14 in the one-day series – too fast, too hostile for theBangladeshis – before obliterating them in the two Tests with 12wickets at 15. Only Hannan Sarkar and Al Sahariar notched fiftieswhile South Africa posted five hundreds – including two from GaryKirsten who became the first batsman to score hundreds against allnine Test-playing nations. Graeme Smith’s 200 set-up a huge innings win in the first Test in East London, while in the second at Potchefstroom Jacques Kallis tore through with 5 for 21. As Wisden reported, the sentiment that Bangladesh benefited from competing against such strong opposition wore rather thin. Tests: South Africa 2 Bangladesh 0 ODIs: South Africa 3 Bangladesh 0 2003 in Bangladesh Chastened from their disastrous World Cup campaign, South Africaembarked on a tour of Bangladesh with a new-look squad.Graeme Smith was appointed captain – the third-youngest at 22 years 82days – while Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes both retired. Bangladesh werealso rebuilding, with the captain Khaled Masud making way for KhaledMahmud, but South Africa’s youthful façade was still far too strong. In thefirst Test at Chittagong, Jacques Rudolph cracked 222 on debut to begin achequered international career. And in the second, South Africa’sbowlers probed away to crush Bangladesh for 102 and 210, sweeping theseries 2-0. Tests: Bangladesh 0 South Africa 2
2007-08 in Bangladesh South Africa were given the hurry-up in 2008, squeezing home by five wickets in the first Test at Mirpur, on a juicy surface which offered plenty to seamers. Bangladesh even squeaked a first-innings lead of 22 after Shahadat Hossain picked up career-best figures of 6 for 27. The hosts’ stranglehold couldn’t last, however, and they were rolled for 182 in their second innings, leaving South Africa chasing 205 to win – a target, though tricky, was far from insurmountable. Normal order was resumed at Chittagong where Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith put on 415 for the opening wicket. 405 of those came on the first day – the most runs scored in a day without a wicket falling. Robin Peterson picked up 5 for 33 while Dale Steyn grabbed seven in the match as Bangladesh were walloped by an innings-and-205-runs. The ODIs went to script, too, with Smith notching 199 runs in the three comprehensive wins for South Africa. Tests: Bangladesh 0 South Africa 2 ODIs: Bangladesh 0 South Africa 3
England women’s head coach, Richard Bates, is upbeat despite his side’s position at the bottom of the table in the quadrangular series in Chennai after losing three out of three. England have been beaten by Australia, India and New Zealand during the opening week of the event, leaving them struggling to make the final.”We’re obviously very disappointed with the results so far especially considering we were in a winning position in the first two games,” said Bates. “In terms of our bowling, we have struggled to contain the opposition as much as we would like. We are certainly missing our two main strike bowlers, Katherine Brunt and Nicky Shaw who are both injured.”Coupled with the fact that Laura Marsh is currently suffering with a thigh strain, we have been lacking the fire-power needed at the start of the innings and again at the death. We have therefore struggled to pick up wickets at key times, which is essential against these sides.”England lost the first match against India by 18 runs short after being set a total of 232 and their second against New Zealand who hit a massive 291. “We batted pretty well in the first two games,” Bates continued “But the reality is that we let India get 230 rather than 200 and New Zealand 290 rather than 250. We chased well in both games and managed to put ourselves into winning positions but then faltered in the later stages, which is frustrating.”England have three games remaining, which they must win if they have any chance of making the final at Mac A stadium on March 5. “We have a young and talented squad, which is continually improving and it is tournaments like this that accelerates their development,” said Bates. “We have an opportunity in the next three games to come out fighting and to battle to reverse the three results so far. As you can imagine the squad is a bit low on confidence at this point, but good teams bounce back and that is what we must do.”Bates believes that this experience will help the side as part of the planning for the 2009 World Cup. “I’m confident we can go out there and win our remaining three games and I have every faith in this young group of players. It’s a great opportunity for us to prove ourselves and it’s a good time to see where we stand in relation to the other countries.”England will train on Tuesday and then go into back-to-back ODIs against India and Australia.
England have confirmed that Owais Shah has been called into the squad in India as additional cover ahead of the first Test at Nagpur on Wednesday. Marcus Trescothick flew home for personal reasons on Saturday and Michael Vaughan is still struggling with his knee injury.Alastair Cook had already left the A tour in West Indies to join the senior squad – along with James Anderson as fast bowling cover – and now Shah brings cover for the middle order after Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood suffered back strains in the last week.Shah was the favourite to get the nod, despite still recovering from a knee injury of his own, and has been pushing for a recall after a prolific domestic season in 2005. He has 15 ODIs under his belt and was preferred to Vikram Solanki and Ed Joyce who are also in West Indies.Earlier David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, confirmed to Sky Sports that further reinforcements were needed, but that the replacement would be unlikely to play at Nagpur. “We need an extra body out there, but he wouldn’t arrive there the night before the Test match so it would have to be extremely extreme circumstances for a man to travel half way round the world and then play for England.”He also admitted the current situation is making a tough tour even tougher. “Also allied to the cricketing injuries, there’s gastric influenza spreading through the team. It’s been a difficult time but everyone has to rally round. India was going to be a test, even with a fully fit squad. But everyone will rally round.”Graveney confirmed that if Vaughan fails to make the Test, Andrew Flintoff will lead England for the first time. “Let’s hope Michael’s fit because in these circumstances he’s a key man. If that isn’t the case, Flintoff will captain. The issue regarding [Paul] Collingwood and [Kevin] Pietersen seems to be better every day, as it does with Simon Jones.”