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ScorecardNick Compton took on the extra pace of Uxbridge, and Steve Finn, with aplomb•Getty Images

When Nick Compton was dropped by England, it was suggested that his batting was too slow and stodgy. He didn’t have enough shots and, with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott also in England’s top three, the side would get stuck.It always seemed a slightly peculiar logic. And slow batting was hardly England’s problem during the Ashes series in Australia.In the first innings Compton scored 94 off 278 balls. Laborious, perhaps, but without those runs – or if he had been taken by Paul Stirling at second slip on 16, when Eoin Morgan was off having been stung be a bee – Somerset may well have lost this game.If Compton felt the need to show Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket and the watching England selector, that he could play more expansively, he took the opportunity the last day at Uxbridge presented. He pulled particularly pleasingly, displaying a relish for the short ball that those in England’s Test side have sometimes lacked.”He’s at his best when he’s facing the likes of Steven Finn on these type of pitches when there’s a bit more bounce and a bit more pace,” Marcus Trescothick purred.For Chris Rogers, the upshot of Compton’s defiance was to reflect once again on his declaration. He set Somerset 390 in 72 overs, which sounded on the cautious side, though he had a rapid outfield to consider as well as the memory of Nottinghamshire’s heist of 385 last month.”Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Maybe we could have pulled out a bit earlier but we had a hard loss a few weeks ago and that’s in the back of our minds. I think if we were to lose this game we’d probably fall off that chasing group so it was probably important that we didn’t lose.”Both sides retain title pretensions. Somerset are in third, and have both their games against Northamptonshire to play, while Middlesex go to Scarborough next week to play Yorkshire. “I think they’ll be a bit wary of us and hopefully we can pull off an amazing win and then we’ll be right up there,” Rogers said.The spectre of a drab final day, for all the fine cricket in the match, also prompted discussion over the lack of disintegration in the pitch. “I was hoping for a bit more up and down on day four but it didn’t really do that. It was essential you used the new ball but after that it became a bit lifeless,” Rogers said.”With the sun out the wickets here become a bit dead and then it is hard to bowl teams out, particularly as they don’t seem to be breaking up that much. I’m sure groundsmen are trying their best. They probably just need a bit of rain!”If the crowd felt underwhelmed at the spectre of early handshakes, at least they had a morning of pyrotechnics to enjoy. Paul Stirling, promoted to number five, bristled with stocky intent. He followed an uppercut off Lewis Gregory for six with a bludgeoned straight drive and reached 50 in only 37 balls.It was his fourth in five Championship innings in 2014, seemingly rendering his years marooned in the 2nd X1 all the more curious. But not to Rogers.”He was still developing his own game and he’d be the first to say he had no form with the red ball but he’s come round and he’s doing very well,” Rogers said. “It’s great to say we should have picked him early in hindsight but that’s a rubbish call. I’m just really happy he’s doing well.”Rogers’ new opening partner is also in fine form. Nick Gubbins reached 95, including lofting George Dockrell for six over midwicket, but was run-out after a mix-up with Stirling. Still, on the evidence of his composure and mature shot selection, Gubbins’ maiden first-class century will not be long in coming.Somerset’s prospects of threatening their target always depended inordinately upon Trescothick, especially with Craig Kieswetter missing this game because of a family funeral.He flickered briefly, swatting a few trademark late cuts, but when Eoin Morgan smartly took him at second slip a meandering draw seemed inevitable. With a lively spell that accounted for Chris Jones and Alviro Petersen, Toby Roland-Jones briefly offered the prospect of Rogers being vindicated.But James Hildreth made a second silky half-century of the game, adding 93 with Compton. As he accelerated, unfurling a reverse-sweep, Somerset may have entertained fanciful notions of a run chase. He was caught at long on to end those. No matter: Compton remained unperturbed.

Charl Langeveldt, the South Africa fast bowler, has opted out of the Test series in India beginning next week, saying the controversy over the selection of the squad so upset him he feels he won’t be in the right frame of mind for the matches.Langeveldt was picked ahead of Andre Nel in the 14-man squad for the three-Test series, a move seen by many as pandering to Cricket South Africa’s transformation policy. Nel was reportedly disappointed after his exclusion, and there was speculation over his future with South Africa.Gerald Majola, the CSA chief executive, said Joubert Strydom, the convenor of selectors, had accepted Langeveldt’s request to withdraw from the touring party, and that the selectors were considering a replacement.”Charl Langeveldt called me today in an emotional state saying he wanted to withdraw from the tour of India so that he can consider his international future in the right frame of mind,” Majola said. “He said that the public controversy over the selection of the Proteas team to tour India had upset him to the extent that he would not be in the right frame of mind to tour India and do his best.””Charl said he wanted to use this time instead to consider his future in international cricket in a cool and calm manner.”I have assured Charl that he is very much in the plans, and is regarded as one of our best fast bowlers in both ODI and Test cricket.”We will have in-depth discussions with him, and hopefully he will continue to be available for international selection.”No replacement has been named as yet for Langeveldt in the squad, which arrives in India later this week.

Auckland 185 for 7 (Vincent 58, Guptill 55) beat Central Districts 180 for 8 (Mills 3-32) by three wickets
ScorecardAuckland missed out on a place in Sunday’s State Twenty20 final despite beating Central Districts by three wickets in a nail-biting run chase at Pukekura Park. Needing to win well to pip Northern Districts into the final on net run-rate, Auckland were off the pace once Central Districts had rattled up 180 for 8, leaving them 10.2 overs to get the runs within the necessary time.Martin Guptill and Lou Vincent certainly went for it, blasting the score to 78 in five overs. Guptill needed 15 balls for his half-century while Vincent used 17, adding 46 in 16 balls for the second wicket. Both men fell shortly after reaching their fifties and although the middle-order kept swinging, at the 10.2-over mark Auckland were 156 for 6. Thereafter things calmed down and Auckland took another six overs to knock off the 25 they still required.Central Districts’ innings was a real team effort as five batsmen passed 20 but none were able to go on to make a significant score, Brendon Diamanti’s unbeaten 31 off 17 balls the biggest contribution. Their innings was going well before three run-outs reduced them to 128 for 7. Diamanti re-started things, being particularly savage on Paul Hitchcock who was recalled to the national side 24 hours earlier.Central Districts will now host Northern Districts in the final, mindful that when the two sides met earlier in the competition they came off second best.

Zimbabwe’s selectors have not sprung any surprises in their 15-man squad for the five-ODI series in Pakistan.Ray Price and Gary Brent, who have both returned to the side after turning their backs on international cricket, are named, as is Sean Williams, whose inclusion in the side which played in South Africa last week reportedly caused a bitter dispute among the selectors who wanted another black player instead.Meanwhile, Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket’s chairman, denied claims that his board was putting player safety second to the standing of the country within the ICC. “The players and their technical staff are all comfortable with the tour,” he said. “I will accompany the team on the first leg of the tour and the vice-chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, will then join the travelling party when I return on January 17 or 18. The chairman of the cricket committee, Cyprian Mandenge, will take over from Mukuhlani on January 24 and return with the team.”Critics point out that the women’s World Cup qualifier has been moved from Pakistan to South Africa on safety grounds and accuse ZC of not taking the proper steps to establish the security situation in the country. Zimbabwe will be there in the build-up to the national elections in mid February when many are predicting an escalation in violence.Zimbabwe squad Prosper Utseya (capt), Gary Brent, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Keith Dabengwa, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Brendon Taylor, Sean Williams

Scorecard
Salman Butt and Misbah-ul-Haq scored brisk second-innings centuries as Punjab batted out a high-scoring draw against North West Frontier Province in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. After Wahab Riaz had taken five wickets to dismiss NWFP – who took three points from their first innings lead – for 446 in the first session on the final day, Punjab had few hassles posting 340 for 4 on a dull track.Butt and Misbah scored half-centuries in Punjab’s first innings but with a result never even a possibility the duo cashed in on starts to post three figures. Butt lost fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez early, but shared stands of 136 with Nasir Jamshed (59) and 90 with Misbah. He faced few problems against NWFP’s attack, picking up 18 fours during his 117 off 157 deliveries. After he departed, leg before to Mohammad Aslam with the score 227 for 3, Misbah shepherded the middle order to the end of the day with an unbeaten 100 off just 108 balls.NWFP are now tied on three points with Punjab.

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

The stage was set for India’s most loved cricketing son to bid adieu tohis home crowd with the sort of innings that he often played to illuminatethis venue for almost two decades. Instead, it was Murali Kartik, forevercondemned to Indian cricket’s fringes, who basked in the late-afternoonsunshine with a mesmeric spell of left-arm spin bowling, before takingpart in the unlikeliest of rearguard actions to script a famous victory.Australia’s pace bowlers had bullied and toyed with India’s top order, beforea defiant 65-run partnership between Robin Uthappa and Harbhajan Singhgave India fleeting hope. However, it was a stunning 52-run stand for the ninthwicket between Kartik and Zaheer Khan that gave India a consolation win ina series otherwise dominated by the world champions.By one of those strange quirks of fate, the Kartik-Zaheer partnershipmirrored the epic one between Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble in Bangalore11 years earlier. A crowd that had become despondent with Uthappa’s exitroused itself to cheer every forward defensive prod, every nudge and evenevery swipe that just evaded the outside edge.At 64 for 6, with only the cavalier Uthappa left of the top order, abject humiliation was on the cards but the partnership with Harbhajan spared a few blushes, before MichaelClarke and Johnson appeared to remove the last vestiges of resistance. Zaheer, however, clouted Brett Lee for a straight six, and when Kartik edged one between the wicketkeeper and slip for four, you sensed that the cricketing gods were on India’s side. Four leg byes off Mitchell Johnson settled it with four overs to spare, and fittingly, it was Kartik who was on strike.Even though the target of 194 wasn’t an imposing one, it was imperative thatIndia got a good start. They didn’t, with Johnson inducing diffident edgesfrom both Sourav Ganguly and Dinesh Karthik. Tendulkar sparkled briefly,with two glorious cuts for four off Johnson, but the moment he played onto Lee, the writing was clearly legible on the wall.Lee bowled at fearsome pace, but if anything, India’s plight only worsenedwith the introduction of Nathan Bracken’s medium pace. Showing superbcontrol of swing and seam, Bracken had Yuvraj Singh edging behind beforeslanting one away from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to get the same result.When Pathan edged to slip off James Hopes – there was no weak link toexploit anywhere – thoughts of victory receded into the far distance, andthe cheers as Uthappa spanked two huge sixes rang almost as hollow asIndian claims to batting greatness.The undoubted star of the day though was Kartik. Four years ago, he wasIndia’s best bowler in the TVS Cup that Australia won, but was nevertrusted enough to kick on to greater heights. On Wednesday, he showed justwhy he’s India’s most potent one-day spinner with a wonderful combinationof teasing flight, guile and sharp turn.

The last time he played an international game in Mumbai, Kartik had beeninstrumental in India defending a paltry target of 107 in a dead-rubber,dismissing Ponting and Damien Martyn in the same over. The man whocaptained India to that improbable win, Rahul Dravid, may have beenmissing today but Kartik was again to the fore, on a hat-trick twice as hefinished with the best figures by an Indian bowler against Australia.The key moments came in the passage of play when Brad Hodge and AndrewSymonds were dismissed off successive deliveries. Symonds, the outstandingplayer of the series, came to the crease accompanied by a chorus of boos,and many more jeers and whistles followed him back after he cut a deliveryto Tendulkar at short cover. The previous ball had seen Hodge’s Indiannightmare continue, with Kartik angling one across to take the edge toslip.It was respite that India needed after they had squandered the perfectstart. Clarke was plumb first ball, but though Zaheer did little wrong,RP Singh started woefully at the other end, conceding four widesin his opening over. Adam Gilchrist struggled as the ball moved around,but Ponting was ruthless on the slightest bowling transgressions, driving,flicking off the pads and cutting with precision.India’s plight worsened when Zaheer was denied a second wicket asGilchrist, on 2, edged one toward the slips. Uthappa could only get hisfingertips to it. After a sedate start by his standards, Gilchristappeared to be finding some touch with two fours in Pathan’s opening overbut when he subsequently slashed at one, Harbhajan took a running catch atthird man.With pace not doing the trick, and Ganguly’s mixed bag not helping, Dhoniturned to his spinners, and Kartik certainly didn’t disappoint. Theotherwise wayward RP Singh also played his part with the crucial wicket ofPonting, coming round the wicket to induce an edge.If Kartik’s first double-whammy put India in charge, the second killed offAustralian hopes of a large total. Brad Haddin, dropped moments earlier byZaheer at deep midwicket, was trapped in front by the arm ball before BradHogg and Lee fell to the fourth and fifth balls of the over. Hogg wasdubiously given out, caught at forward short leg, while Lee edged one toRP Singh at short gully.By the time he ended a 22-run cameo from Hopes, Kartik, histeam-mates and the capacity crowd were beyond the clouds. But Johnson’s24-run cameo turned out to be a warning, and after dinner, it was back toterra firma with a thud as the three-time world champions illustratedtheir hatred of defeat. Fortunately for India, Kartik was intent onensuring that his dream day didn’t become a nightmare.

Daren Ganga, West Indies’ opening batsman, will be given his first outing on their South Africa tour in the four-day warm-up match against South Africa A at East London.Ganga will open the batting alongside Devon Smith with Chris Gayle still sitting out as he recovers from the hamstring injury he picked up in Zimbabwe. Ganga is coming off a lean run in Tests, having failed to reach double figure in his last six innings after making 25 runs in the final three matches against England in May and June.Dwayne Bravo continues to lead the team, which won the Twenty20 international at Port Elizabeth by five wickets, while Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor who impressed in that match also sit out against South Africa A. Rawl Lewis, the legspinner, is given a chance to put his name in the equation for Test selection as is left-arm quick Pedro Collins.The four-day match is the only warm-up match before the Test series starts on Boxing Day at Port Elizabeth with two more games at Cape Town and Durban.West Indies Devon Smith, Daren Ganga, Runako Morton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo (capt), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Rawl Lewis, Darren Sammy, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards

Majid Saeed, the captain of the Gujranwala team, hit an unbeaten 94 in the second innings to steer his side to a four wicket win over Sheikhupura in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (Grade-I) match played at the Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala.Chasing a target of 143 runs, Gujranwala were reduced to 98 for 6 when the captain came to the team’s rescue. He shared an unbroken partnership of 47 with wicket-keeper batsman, Hafiz Khalid, to safely reach home.Earlier, Sarfraz Ahmad, the left-arm seamer from Gujranwala took 5 wickets for 43 runs to send Sheikhupura packing for a paltry 146 in their first innings. Qaisar Abbas scored 67, as only two other batsmen could pass the double-figures.Gujranwala’s reply was not a confident one, as they lost 6 wickets for just 100 on the board. However, a partnership of 61 runs for the seventh wicket between Abdul Rehman and Hafiz Khalid ensured that their side takes the vital first innings lead. In the end it turned out to be a lead of 52, as Gujranwala were all out for 198 in their first innings.For Sheikhupura, Naveed ul Hassan and Jaffer Nazir took 6 and 3 wickets each for 80 and 32 runs, respectively.Sheikhupura’s start in the second innings was disastrous as they lost three wickets for only 11 runs. However, it was the gritty knock of 59 from the opening batsman, Zahid Javed, which avoided a total collapse. He was supported in his efforts by the middle and late order comprising of Mujahid Jamshed (32), Yasir Bashir (40), and Naveed ul Hassan (39).Sheikhupura were all out for 194, leaving a target of 143 runs for Gujranwala to wrap up the game in their favour.Mubbashir Nazir was the most successful of the Gujranwala bowlers taking 6 wickets for 56. Sarfraz took 2 for 71, whereas Abdul Rehman and Asim Butt bagged one wicket each.

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An unbeaten 93 from Ben Brown helped rebuild England’s innings and steered them to a 16-run win over Pakistan in the Under-19 triangular tournament in Colombo.Brown arrived in the middle with England in disarray on 44 for 5 but he added 105 for the sixth wicket with opener Dan Redfern who had stood alone while the top order folded. Brown received good support from the tail as England finished on 213.Pakistan also lost regular wickets but with the exception of 56 from Usman Salahuddin, there was nobody able to play an anchor innings and their chase was further undermined by some tight bowling which saw them add only 35 runs between the 30th and 40th overs.Liam Dawson was the pick of England’s bowlers with 3 for 47 from his 10 overs.

Glenn McGrath believes India’s upcoming tour of Australia will be a major test for Sreesanth, who he says needs to start backing up his aggression with more consistent bowling. Sreesanth took nine wickets from four ODI outings in this month’s home series but he was expensive and his efforts were overshadowed by his frequent clashes with members of the Australia team.”I’ve had a chat to him a few times and it doesn’t seem to be in his character,” McGrath told the . “He’s trying to be aggressive and it’s a little bit unusual. You want your fast bowler to be aggressive.”Giving blokes send-offs or sledging when you talk back I don’t agree with but that’s up to the officials to sort out. At the end of the day you’ve got to be able to back it up. You can talk the talk but if you can’t go out there and perform then you’re not going to be around for very long.”Sreesanth was rested for three of the recent ODIs but he will be a key factor in India’s Test and one-day tour of Australia starting in December. Stuart MacGill said Sreesanth and his team-mates would find it difficult to maintain their fiery approach in Australia.”It’s always easier when you’ve got a lot of support at home to ride your emotions,” MacGill said in the . “They only need to look around and know they’ve got a billion countrymen supporting them. I think you’ll find it doesn’t work for them if they’re pretending.”Ricky Ponting said a seven-match ODI series was a completely different scenario to four Tests and the tri-series, which would test India’s resolve. “They made it pretty clear right at the start of the series they were going to fight fire with fire,” Ponting said on returning home from the trip.”We know that’s generally not the way they play their cricket. We’ve got a lot of cricket against them in the next few months, so it will be interesting to see just how long that aggressive-natured cricket does last from them.”