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A blistering century from Runako Morton could not save West Indies A from a disappointing defeat against Kent in the cathedral city of Canterbury. Morton smashed 126, only to see the tourists’ competitive total of 257 overhauled with five balls to spare in an exciting finale.After an admirable effort from the batsmen, the West Indian bowlers gifted Kent an unlikely win. A regulation victory against British Universities and a scrambled win over Sussex is not much to show after an uninspiring start to the tour. They begin the first-class leg of the six-week visit against Derbyshire on Wednesday, looking for a return to winning ways.Morton, at least, was superb. The 23-year-old, who has struggled in his two ODI’s to date, took apart an inexperienced Kent attack after Daren Ganga had won another toss. He hit 11 fours and four sixes in his 133 ball knock, occupying the crease for a little over two hours.His effort was not to be enough on a beautiful summer’s day at Canterbury, the perfect setting for batsmen. Ed Smith (87) and Matthew Walker (75 not out) led the way, seizing on every opportunity given by an inaccurate attack.Kent raced to 84 for one in fifteen overs. Marlon Black and Reon King were particularly wayward, inexcusable from the international pairing. Black redeemed himself slightly by dismissing young talent James Hockley, but Kent were gifted nine boundaries in as many overs. Smith and James Tredwell (30) were severe on anything loose, adding 54 for the second wicket.Walker and Smith continued the attack with a workmanlike vigour. They added 105 for the third wicket, hitting seventeen boundaries between them. King, Tino Best, Gareth Breese and Dwayne Bravo were all too expensive, with six foot seven inch spinner Sulieman Benn (1-26) again the pick of the bowlers. Breese did at least remove Smith to put Kent under pressure.With the required rate climbing well above six, Walker crashed Best for a timely six to relieve the pressure. Geraint Jones (25) found the fence twice, Bravo not the man for such a tight situation. King returned, finding Jones’ edge, but too late. Victory was secured with a bye, a sloppy end.Earlier, West Indies made a dreadful start, losing Ganga to a mix-up from the first ball of the match. Devon Smith (25) and Donovan Pagon (16) stopped panic setting in, before a double change bought wickets for James Tredwell (1-32) and James Golding (3-58).Bravo (40) joined Morton, as the pair increased the run-rate, reservingtheir harshest punishment for Jamie Hewitt, whose four overs cost 40. Bravo was again impressive, the 18-year-old Trinidadian accumulating runs, a lofted six his only extravagance. The stand had reached 98 before he became Golding’s second victim, trapped plumb leg before.Morton continued apace, dispatching bad balls with a refreshing flamboyance. He appears have taken his second chance after disciplinary lapses led to him being expelled from the St. Georges Academy last year.Breese (15) and 17-year-old Lendl Simmons (15 not out) added runs at the death, with Morton dismissed from the final ball of the innings. The visitors had reached an eminently defendable target, and would have ensured victory if they had not lapsed so badly with the ball.

There cannot be many better places to see out a cricket season than Worcester with late summer sunshine bathing the ground and the bells ringing out from the cathedral. The match itself was not really worthy of such a setting, for Worcestershire Royals were generally in command, especially when they were batting and took advantage some woeful Leicestershire Foxes bowling to post a total of 255 for eight off their 45 overs. Foxes are meant to be cunning animals, but there was little to suggest that these Foxes are too clever when all of their bowlers managed to contribute to the wides and no ball tally that reached 16.Kadeer Ali came in to the Royals’ side in place of the injured Graeme Hick and proceeded to play an innings the like of which the absent captain might have been willing to call his own. He found the boundary seven times and went over it twice as he reached 57 from 58 balls.That gave the innings a momentum that David Leatherdale picked up with relish. He took only 52 balls to reach 60 not out, taking advantage at the time when the bowling was in its most end of term mode. Wickets fell at the other end with just enough alacrity to allow Stuart Lampitt, playing his last match after 18 seasons of unfailing service to his county, to get to the middle. Applauded all the way to the middle, he had no opportunity to prove whether it is indeed possible to bat with tears in the eyes as he merely stood at the non-striker’s end.There were not too many moments when the Foxes threatened to overtake that total. When Darren Stevens and Neil Burns were sharing a stand of 80 for the fourth wicket, there was a chance of them making a serious challenge. Stevens struck the ball cleanly, as seen when he brought up his fifty with a straight six off Gareth Batty. Burns was also full of invention, but the end of their partnership effectively ended the run chase.As Charlie Dagnall and Ashley Wright belatedly made a stand, the main interest centred on whether the Royals could avoid a penalty for bowling their overs too slowly. But Lampitt brought another generous and sentimental round of applause for his final bowling stint that produced figures of three for 33, the Royals won by 28 runs and the sun set on another season.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is lamenting the absence of his first-choice bowling attack of Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash and Shayne O’Connor but backing their replacements with a longer term view in mind.New Zealand saved the second Test with a plucky display of batting, ending on 158/4 when given a target of 356 off 86 overs, but in difficult conditions where any chase was always going to expose the home side.England had held all the cards with the rough on the pitch with left-arm spinner Ashley Giles being able to dictate the pace of the chase and Fleming’s feeling was, the more risks New Zealand took, the more it played into England’s hands.But Fleming rued the fact that his side could create opportunities but not sustain the attack to exploit them, and that came down to the inexperience of his attack.”The guys that are missing are world-class players, and when you implement certain things they deliver and just offer the experience.”We’re missing that and while the young guys have got talent, I’ll back them 100%, there are just some stages where we don’t create enough pressure,” he said.”I still think that if we get England under a certain type of pressure which is going to take us playing well, I just look forward to that period because then you just think about winning the Test and creating options.”And Test cricket is about creating options.”When we create one, we are losing it fairly quickly. From my point of view I’d love to get in the position where we can put a little more pressure on them and sustain that for a little bit longer,” he said.The final National Bank Test in Auckland offered a chance for New Zealand to at least tie the series and with another drop-in pitch there was the opportunity for a result.He was still very keen to tie the series, because it was one he had dearly wanted to win when he had the side at full strength.There was satisfaction the series was still alive but he conceded that for most of the game New Zealand were outplayed.”We are pleased we have kept the series alive because that took another type of determination, and we showed that today, so we can go to Auckland with still the chance to finish the season well.”The English are bowling very well as a unit, and as a unit they are able to apply pressure and [Nasser] Hussain is captaining the team very well and using his field placings very well.”Andrew Caddick is performing very well in both areas. He’s going for no runs and he’s also taking wickets. He’s providing a good spearhead for his captain.”They are able to dictate to us a little more probably than we are. When they bat we are probably giving them too many four balls right from ball one and they are able to get away to a healthy run rate. It takes the pressure off then our areas of attack are minimalised.”We were very happy to get through today, we would have been very disappointed if we didn’t get through today. That’s a good thing,” Fleming said.

North West won the toss and amassed 304 for seven on the first day of theirfour-day Supersport Series match again Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth onThursday.This is the first match in the second round of the competition, the Super Eight phase, with both these teams qualifying from the bottom of their respective groups in the first phase.North West opener Riaan Niewoudt, playing in only his second first-class match, scored a fluid 98, falling agonisingly short of what would have been a maiden first-class century.His innings ended when he was trapped leg before by off-spinner Shafiek Abrahams having faced only 174 balls which included 16 boundaries in a littleunder four hours.He was well supported by Andrew Lawson who added 61 before falling to the same bowler just 14 overs from the close, when he was bowled.There were minor contributions down the order from Mark Lavine (21) and Morne Strydom (24) that kept the innings progressing in a positive way.Only the bowling of Abrahams, who claimed four for 31 in 16 overs posed any problems for the batsmen. Former South African fast bowler Mornatau Haywardbowled 14 overs without success, costing him 46 runs, but the no-ball columnnext to his name read 16.It is a worrying factor for Hayward who has always battled with a no-ball problem, which seemingly becomes worse.North West will resume on Friday with Ezra Poole (15) and Alphonso Thomas(6) at the crease.

Rain held up Warwickshire’s charge for a three-day victory. Hampshire were forced to follow-on 285 behind and then slumped to 114 for four before drizzle set in early in the afternoon.They still needed 171 to make Powell’s team bat again and the loss of 60 overs in all probably saved them from a defeat inside three days on their first appearance in the Second Division of the CricInfo Championship.New overseas signing Vasbert Drakes quickly closed down the first innings by taking the last two wickets with a catch by Keith Piper to remove James Hamblin and another at slip by Dominic Ostler to dislodge Neil Johnson for 43.When Hampshire batted again, Piper claimed his fifth dismissal of the match – holding a thin edge from Giles White off Alan Richardson – and Drakes struck again with Ostler’s assistance in grabbing a slip chance from Will Kendall.But Derek Kenway moved to a half-century in 75 balls and put on 75 with Robin Smith before Dougie Brown reinforced Warwickshire’s challenge with wickets in successive overs. Kenway (52) and Johnson (0) were both caught by Ostler at first slip, leaving Smith unbeaten on 41 when the rain arrived.Probably the most cheering news for Hampshire – and they have not had much to shout about so far – was Smith’s return to form.After scoring only two runs in three pre-season matches in South Africa and four in the first innings here, he reached an unbeaten 41 from 78 balls. In the process he picked up five fours and pulled Neil Smith for six.

After Mashonaland Eagles were bowled out for 182, half-centuries from Vusi Sibanda and Jaik Mickleburgh helped Mid West Rhinos win by four wickets at the Kwekwe Sports Club. Spinners Malcolm Waller and Graeme Cremer, who also effected two run outs, didn’t allow Eagles to build big partnerships as the opening stand of 40 was their highest of the innings. A confident chase, led by a second-wicket stand of 109 runs between Sibanda and Mickleburgh effectively sealed the contest.After being put in to bat, Eagles started positively through their openers, but from 71 for one, they slipped to 80 for four, and kept losing wickets regularly thereafter. A lower order defiance was led by Ray Price, but they failed to cross the 200-run mark, being bowled out in the 48th over.The Eagles, however, made a positive start in the following innings when Rhinos’ captain, opener and wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor was run out for 10 in the fifth over. After the ensuing Sibanda-Mickleburgh partnership, which ended in the 28th over with Sibanda’s dismissal, Rhinos suffered a minor collapse. Mickleburgh had stuck around for long to score 73 and secure their victory. When he departed with the score at 160 for five, 23 more runs were needed, which were scored in 56 deliveries and the loss of a wicket.At the Masingvo Sports Club, a four-wicket haul by Chris Mpofu overshadowed Curthbert Musoko’s four-wicket haul as it helped Matabeleland Tuskers defeat Southern Rocks by nine runs in a rain-shortened game. Tuskers’ Keegan Meth scored 36 turned out to be highest in the low-scoring game.Chasing 141 in 31 overs, the Rocks fell into trouble early with the wicket of opener Kudzai Monze in the fourth over. Although half their side was out for 70 in the 21st over, a middle-order resurgence, led by Peter Burgoyne Tawanda Mupariwa helped them get close to the target. But Mpofu’s timely wickets pegged them back. With 23 needed off the final two overs, Rocks lost two wickets and fell nine runs short to end the game at 131 for nine.With five single-digit scores and two ducks, Tuskers’ innings also stuttered to reach 140 for nine. Two partnerships proved to be the bedrock of their innings – a 28 run stand for the fifth wicket after they were in trouble at 32 for four, and a quick 50-run partnership in 6.2 overs between Meth and Glen Querl that pushed them towards a total that they could defend.

Callum Ferguson has been recalled to the Australian ODI squad for the India tour after the captain Michael Clarke formally withdrew due to his chronic back condition. Nic Maddinson has also been added to the squad for the Twenty20 match that precedes the seven 50-over matches.ESPNcricinfo reported last month that Clarke was set to be taken out of the squad in order to ensure his back recovers fully from its most recent flare up in time for the start of the home Ashes series against England. His absence means that George Bailey will again lead the ODI team, with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin as his deputy.Alex Kountouris, the Australia team physio, said Clarke’s back had been slow in responding to daily treatment since his return home from England. “Michael Clarke has a longstanding low back injury that requires ongoing management,” he said. “During the recent England ODI series his injury flared up again and has been slow to improve with his regular treatment regime.”Michael will therefore not be available to play the upcoming India ODI series and will require a more extensive rehabilitation period before returning to competitive cricket.”Ferguson possesses a handsome limited-overs record for Australia but has been used only sparingly since a serious knee injury curtailed a successful run in the team in 2009. The national selector John Inverarity said Ferguson had backed up those performances with a strong domestic limited-overs season in 2012-13.”Michael was very keen to captain the ODI team to India but unfortunately he hasn’t progressed enough to be available for selection,” Inverarity said. “His replacement is Callum Ferguson, whose form in 50-over cricket during the last Australian summer was impressive, scoring 271 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 70 in the Ryobi Cup, along with an additional three matches for Australia A against the England Lions in February, scoring 149 runs in three innings at 49.66 with a strike rate of 91.”Maddinson’s selection for the T20 fixture follows strong showings for Australia A on tours of the British Isles and southern Africa earlier this year. His powerful, free-swinging approach impressed national team coach Darren Lehmann in particular. “Nic showed some sparkling form on Australia A tours during the winter,” Inverarity said. “He will be in strong contention to open the batting with Aaron Finch in the T20.”

Glamorgan, to the surprise of many, have secured their place in the final of the Yorkshire Bank 40 and, on Monday, they will discover their opponents as Nottinghamshire and Somerset meet at Trent Bridge in a match that provides both sides with a last opportunity to grab something rewarding from the season.Both counties have struggled in Division One of the County Championship, and neither is safe from relegation. A place in the final at Lord’s on September 21 offers the chance of redemption and, even though Glamorgan’s displays have demanded respect, the winners of this second semi-final can expect to be installed as favourites.Somerset are in greater peril of relegation in the Championship, and they could be forgiven if in Nottingham they have half a mind on their crucial meeting with Surrey at Taunton two days later.Nottinghamshire cruised through their qualifying group and Mick Newell, their director of cricket, is aware of the significance of the semi-final in the context of his team’s season.”We’re looking forward to the challenge”, he said. “There were a couple of blips towards the end of qualifying but we played very well though the first half of the competition. James Taylor played excellently, as did Alex Hales and Samit Patel. We had a little stutter but you’re not going to win 12 out of 12 so I think winning nine was a pretty good effort.”Newell had high expectations of Nottinghamshire in one-day cricket at the start of the season, but they succumbed in the Friends Life t20 at the quarter-final stage. To falter again would be a frustrating end.”We’ve achieved a minimum,” he said. “I felt from early in the season this was a good one-day team, and that the minimum requirement was to make a home quarter and a home semi. We’ve done that now so if we win I’ll be very pleased that we’ve achieved more than the bare minimum and if we lose we’ll look back and think that wasn’t really quite good enough for this team.”Nottinghamshire expect a close contest with Somerset. “They’re similar to us,” Newell said. “They’d probably say they’re a better one-day side rather than four-day side. They played a lot of good, dominant cricket in their group. They’re a good batting side in particular, very explosive, but with someone like Jos Buttler missing I hope that would swing things in our favour.”Buttler is away keeping wicket for the England one-day team but Somerset will have Jamie Overton available; he has been released from the England squad for this match but will return ahead of the third ODI. Somerset will be hoping that Craig Kieswetter can put behind him the demons of his last match, when he conceded 41 byes in a two-wicket Championship defeat to Derbyshire at Taunton.Lurking in the background will be the debate over whether Hales and Michael Lumb, in demand for their T20 prowess, should be allowed to enter the auction for IPL next year. Nottinghamshire were unwilling to let them go last year, but they are pressing for a change of heart and talks have begun.”The phrase ‘showdown talks’ was slightly exaggerated,” Newell said, with a smile. “I had a meeting with Michael Lumb’s agent and I’m expecting to have a meeting with Hales’s agent at the end of the season.”We said when we said ‘no’ in January that we would review the whole situation at the end of the season because the IPL is such a fluid event in terms of when it takes place, and where, and who’s in charge so we’ll have some more chats then we’ll make a decision that is right for the cricket club.”He has no worries about the issue being a distraction for the pair. “I’d like to think the issue won’t hang over the players on Monday. Hales and Lumb are excellent white-ball players so their focus, I believe, is all about getting us to Lord’s.”

ScorecardRuvindu Gunasekera put up strong performances in both innings for Canada, scoring 72 and an unbeaten 100•Canadian Cricket Association

Opener Ruvindu Gunasekera’s fifty and unbeaten hundred in consecutive innings, as well as a collective bowling performance, helped Canada win the two-day Auty Cup match against the United States on the basis of a first-innings lead.Canada, chosing to bat, made a strong start with a 105-run opening stand between Gunasekera and wicketkeeper Trevin Bastiampillai. However, once left-arm spinner Ryan Corns broke the partnership, Canada lost regular wickets and were eventually dismissed for 228. Gunasekera top-scored with a 164-ball 72, which included six fours, while Bastiampillai made 55 off 91 deliveries. USA captain and legspinner Timil Patel took four wickets for 66 runs, while Corns ended with 3 for 21.USA made a poor start to their innings, losing openers Steven Taylor and Alan Dodson for just 28 runs in 11 overs. But a 79-run, fourth-wicket stand between Ravi Timbawala and Karan Ganesh stabilised the innings, before Ganesh fell for 35 to left-arm spinner Salman Nazar. From there on, USA slumped from a stable 134 for 3, to 183 all out. Nazar and medium-pacer Harvir Baidwan picked up three wickets each, as USA conceded a 45-run lead.Canada’s batsmen played freely in the second innings, scoring at more than five runs an over. Gunasekera led the way again, scoring an unbeaten 93-ball 100, which included 11 fours and three sixes.The two teams will play a 50-over match on July 27, as well as two Twenty20 matches on July 28.