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Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMumbai Indians’ openers demolished the Southern Express attack with a stand of 139•BCCI

Mumbai Indians kept their qualifying chances alive with a much-improved performance in the batting and the bowling to comprehensively beat Southern Express with 22 balls to spare.After Saturday’s defeat to Lahore Lions, Mumbai had to win to stay in contention. They did, thanks chiefly to their overseas openers Lendl Simmons and Michael Hussey, who put on 139 in under 15 overs. Mumbai and Lions now have four points each, behind Northern Knights’ eight, and while Express are at the bottom, all four teams still have a chance of qualifying.Simmons and Hussey started cautiously, playing mostly along the ground but finding the gaps to score 39 in the Powerplay. Hussey was slow early on and Simmons farmed most of the strike, finding boundaries with flicks and drives even though left-arm seamer Charith Jayampathi swung the ball. Once both batsmen were set and the ball stopped moving around as much, they started taking more risks and were rewarded with quicker runs.Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna was brought on in the ninth over to try break the partnership but Simmons smashed him out of the attack by taking 11 off the over. Hussey, who was going at run-a-ball till then, struck two sixes and a four in four deliveries to bring the equation down to 70 off 54 – a cakewalk, especially with all ten wickets in hand.Both batsmen went on to their half-centuries but couldn’t finish off the chase themselves, as Hussey fell in the 15th over to a slog sweep. With net run-rate likely to play a big role, Kieron Pollard promoted himself up the order and hit a six off his first ball before finishing the game off with two more in the 17th.Pollard used his bowlers to good effect in the first half of the innings after electing to bowl. Harbhajan Singh stifled the batsmen early on, bowling a maiden in the Powerplay. Jasprit Bumrah removed Kusal Perera, who tried to up the run rate, which was under three after three overs.The other opener Danushka Gunathilaka was not as scratchy as yesterday and increased the run-rate as soon as the Powerplay was over, taking 12 off legspinner Shreyas Gopal’s first over. But Express lost too many batsmen to slogs or lofted shots, including a well-set Gunathilaka, who tried to slog against Jalaj Saxena’s offspin to fall for 30. Wickets kept tumbling for Express even though they were hitting the occasional boundary.Prasanna hit consecutive sixes off Shreyas in the 12th over to push the run-rate towards seven and set the stage for Farvez Maharoof’s flourish at the end. Maharoof’s 22-ball 41 propelled them to a competitive 161 in the end. He didn’t hit a boundary in his first 14 deliveries, was dropped on 6, and then targeted Pragyan Ojha and Lasith Malinga. He unleashed reverse-sweeps against Ojha and cashed in on the full deliveries from Malinga in the last over, collecting 10 from the final two balls. Express were also helped by Mumbai’s sloppy fielding in the outfield and three dropped catches which helped them amass 59 in the last five overs.Once Hussey and Simmons got going though, that total didn’t pose too much of a challenge.

ScorecardGraham Napier blew away Worcestershire’s middle order but it won only pride and not promotion•Getty Images

As on the first morning, Essex’s bowlers tore through Worcestershire, finishing the job they had started two days ago. Victory had practically been assured after ten wickets fell in the first session of the game – practically assured from the moment the toss was conducted, according to Steve Rhodes – but there was little of the accompanying drama as both sides trudged off the final time this season with a metaphorical pebble in the shoe.For Essex, Hampshire’s imperious dismantling of Glamorgan, which would be confirmed within the following hour, meant that they missed out on promotion once again. It was small consolation for Paul Grayson that his side, who won six of their last seven games, collected the highest number of points (229) by a team finishing third in Division Two.No team has accumulated that many before and not gone up and only once would they have finished outside the top two – in 2003, the days of three up, three down, when Worcestershire and Northamptonshire had 245.75 and 237 respectively but Gloucestershire were still promoted with 190 points in third.Worcestershire, meanwhile, were also left feeling bilked by Hampshire. The two were tied at the top for most of the season but, with four games left, Worcestershire had a 45-point advantage on Hampshire. That lead was steadily eroded and, needing what turned out to be five points from their visit to Chelmsford to pick up the Division Two title, they fell painfully short. The cost is to pockets as well as pride: club and players will share around £50,000 in prize money, half of what the champions receive.Grayson has watched his side miss out altogether for a fifth season running, after they last won promotion in 2009, but took great encouragement from the second half of Essex’s Championship campaign. In all formats, Essex won 22 matches in 2014, behind only Warwickshire, T20 champions and runners-up in 50-over and Championship cricket, who were victorious 24 times.”I’m really pleased with the cricket we’ve played this year, especially in the second half of the Championship,” Grayson said. “Our form in four-day cricket over the last six weeks has been outstanding. I feel for the players, because there’s four or five lads who really deserve to play in Division One.”Essex used 25 players in the Championship this year and the first half of their campaign was undermined by a “horrific” injury list which at one point saw David Masters, Graham Napier, Reece Topley and Tymal Mills all injured at the same time. Essex’s only two defeats came against Hampshire and Worcestershire but they fell off the pace in failing to win for eight games after their opening fixture. “When we put our best 11-12 on the park, we would give any team in the country a good game,” Grayson said.”We were struggling for players, we played a few triallists, played a few academy players, a few club players, couple of lads out of minor counties – but when you miss the quality of that attack, it’s very difficult to get 20 wickets and win games. One more win early season, I think would have given us a great chance of getting promotion. But credit to Hampshire and Worcestershire, and good luck to them, they’ve played some very consistent cricket all year.”I’m disappointed with the fact we didn’t win a one-day trophy this year because we felt we were strong in both formats. We won 10 matches in our T20 campaign, had a quarter-final here against Warwickshire – but they played better than us. Then we played them in the quarter-final of the 50 overs and they played better than us again. That was the tough one to take, because we felt we would win a one-day trophy this year.”Rhodes can look forward to Division One cricket again after Worcestershire’s fifth promotion since the Championship was split. However, he felt Essex had taken a “big gamble” with the pitch, which was green in the middle and bare at both ends, and said his side’s chances of securing the title had effectively disappeared with the flip of a coin.”We came knowing we needed six points,” he said. “So when we turned up, we were absolutely desperate to win the toss because the wicket it was obvious was going to be darting around all over the place. When we lost that toss, it was a major, major blow to us trying to get any batting points. That first morning, to try and get to 200 and a first batting point, that was a hell of a task.”We were 33-1 outsiders to win promotion at the start of the season, so for us to do that has been excellent. We’ve got a very, very young side and they’ll be better for the experience.”With the script written in this match, Napier burst into the spotlight as Essex came close to wrapping things up inside the first session. Masters nipped one through Tom Fell’s defences to break an 82-run partnership with Moeen Ali, before Napier struck twice in his first over. He bettered that with three more in five balls, denying Moeen a century when he top-edged a pull to midwicket on 98. Napier had taken 5 for 11 in 25 deliveries at that stage but Jack Shantry and Brett D’Oliveira ensured lunch would be taken one last time at the ECG with an enterprising stand.

PERTH, Oct 24 AAP – Fringe West Australian quick Callum Thorp continued England’s poor start to its Ashes tour on day one of a two-day match at the WACA ground.The 27-year-old paceman had taken 3-25 to have the tourists at 4-73 at lunch with opener Marcus Trescothick (41no) and veteran Alec Stewart (17no) at the crease.Buoyed after captaining the ACB Chairman’s XI to a midweek win over the tourists, Michael Hussey sent England into bat on a pitch with a green tinge on it.Thorp trapped England opener Robert Keys (4) in his second over of play before taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Mark Butcher (7).And the 27-year-old troubled England captain Nasser Hussain (1) from his opening ball to him and eventually had him caught behind in his ninth straight over.Left-armer Michael Clark completed the home team’s successful opening session by sending John Crawley back to the pavilion for a duck.However Trescothick and Stewart had set about trying to resurrect the innings with an unbeaten 25-run partnership by lunch.

Bashley (Rydal) opener Neil Thurgood and BAT Sports off-spinner Richard Dibden have won the season’s first Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month awards.Thurgood won the batting prize after scoring 219 runs, while Dibden’s 11 victims edged out BAT team-mate Terry Rawlins for the May bowling award.Australian all-rounder Jeff Anning won the Premier Division 2 batting plinth after scoring 218 in his debut month for Rowledge, with Lymington’s Glyn Treagus taking the bowling honours.Mark Parker’s 270 runs in three knocks for St Cross Symondians, which included a century and two scores of 50 and more, earned the Division 2 batting award, with Andy Cattle’s nine-wicket haul for Leckford getting the bowling prize.Leading Premier League individual performancesPREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Batting: Russell Rowe (South Wilts) 315, Roger Miller (Andover) 259, Luke Ronchi (Bashley Rydal) 239, Neil Thurgood (Bashley Rydal) 219, David Banks (BAT Sports) 186, Mark Miller (Andover) 161, Alistair Gray (Liphook & Ripsley) 161, James Hibberd (Calmore Sports) 151, Paul Draper (South Wilts) 150.Bowling: Terry Rawlins (BAT Sports) 15, Mackie Hobson (Havant) 14, Richard Dibden (BAT Sports) 11, Paul Draper (South Wilts) 11, Phil Loat (Havant) 9, Chris Wright (Liphook) 9, Richard Taylor (Andover) 8, Christof Bothma (Calmore Sports) 8.PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
Batting: Jeff Anning (Rowledge) 256, Gary Hounsome (United Services) 219, Jason Laney (Hungerford) 211, Tim Richings (Sparsholt) 210, Andy Heyes (Sparsholt) 182, Danny Peacock (Lymington) 180, Max Smith (O.T. & Romsey) 179, Peter Hammond (Hampshire Academy) 178.Bowling: Steve Green (Easton & Martyr Worthy) 11, Martin Taylor (Winchester KS) 11, Jason Williams (Hungerford) 11, Damien Carson (United Services) 10, Mike Ball (Sparsholt) 10, Glyn Treagus (Lymington) 10, Simon Williams (Trojans) 10, Rhys Oxley (Winchester KS) 10, Nick Wood (O.T. & Romsey) 10.PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
Batting: Mark Parker (St Cross Symondians) 270, Will Prozesky (Purbrook) 222, Matt Digweed (Hartley Wintney) 220, Colin James (Paultons) 213, Graham Pardey (Bashley Rydal II) 201, Ian Turner (Hambledon) 198, Chris Baumann (Waterlooville) 191, Michael Heffernan (Alton) 178.Bowling: Andy Cattle (Leckford) 13, Adie Heath (Flamingo) 12, Mark Stanley (Purbrook) 11, Will Mariner (St Cross Symondians) 11, Julian Ballinger (Alton) 10.COMBINED LEAGUES – FIELDING
Wicketkeeping: John Harris (Hursley Park) 10, Luke Ronchi (Bashley Rydal) 8, Dave Banks (BAT Sports) 8, Warren Gilmour (United Services) 8.Catches: Ben Adams (St Cross Symondians) 7, Paul Draper (South Wilts) 6, John Rowe (Hartley Wintney) 5, Raj Naik (Winchester KS) 5.

Eastern Province fast bowler Mornantau Hayward has withdrawn on medicaladvice from the President’s XI to play India ‘A’ in Chatsworth this weekend.He has been replaced in the team by Easterns’ Andre Nel.Hayward aggravated an ankle injury bowling in the nets yesterday, said SANational Team physiotherapist Craig Smith today. “He saw the specialist thismorning and has been advised to rest the ankle for another week. Nantie willhave a week of rest and intensive physiotherapy. We hope he will beavailable for the last four Standard Bank One-Day Internationals againstAustralia,” Smith added.

It was another quiet weekend for the New Zealanders taking part in Sydney club cricket last weekend.In Eastern Suburbs 238 against St George, James Marshall scored 23. St George had scored 410/4 declared and were 52/1 at stumps.Scott Styris scored 24 and 12 in his two innings for Gordon. He took one for 42 as North Sydney responded to Gordon’s 153 by scoring 207/9 declared. Gordon were 212/6 at stumps.Bruce Martin took two for 83 off 30 overs for Manly-Warringah. Mosman scored 340 and Martin scored 20 in Manly-Warringah’s 229 in reply.Joseph Hill made a duck for Randwick-Petersham who scored 262 with Daryl Tuffey taking one for 54 for Sutherland. They were 263/7 at stumps.Brendon McCullum scored 19 in UTS-Balmain’s 31/5. Northern District were 314/5 with Neil Maxwell, formerly New Zealand Cricket’s marketing manager and Canterbury player, taking four for 61. McCullum took two catches while keeping wicket.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club can confirm they will play India at New Road over 4 days commencing Wednesday 31st July.Tickets are now available in advance from the Ticket Office on 01905 337921 priced £9 for Adults. Admission for adults on the day will be £11.Since the match is being played during the school holidays, a specially reduced price for all children 16 and under of just £2 will be available for advance purchases and on the day. A Family ticket is also available in advance for just £20.Chief Executive, Mark Newton, is delighted the tourists will be visiting New Road, "During the Natwest Series, India proved what an exciting team they are and we are committed to putting out as strong a team as possible for this match. Last year’s match against the Australians was a sell out and we expect there to be strong interest for this match."

Graham Thorpe has indicated that he still wants to be considered for England’s tour of Australia. Thorpe, who has taken a complete break from cricket since the Lord’s Test against India five weeks ago, has asked for more time before committing himself to the trip.Thorpe told the Daily Telegraph: “I’ve not really spoken to anyone on a regular basis since Lord’s, so I want to see what kind of vibes I’m getting from the selectors.”I’m well aware that I haven’t played for a month, so I’m not looking forassurances. But I don’t want to muck them around either and would like to know where I stand.”The England captain, Nasser Hussain, today confirmed that he has had discussions with Thorpe about the issue this week.”We spoke in messages for about three days and I spoke to him at length for the last couple of days,” Hussain explained.”He has said to me he would like to go to Australia, but there are still problems he has to sort out and Graham has to convince himself and the selectors that he can get through.”My hunch is that only Graham knows. Then the selectors have to decide if he is right mentally to get through the whole thing.”Thorpe returned home early from England’s tour of India last winter. With the Ashes squad due to be announced on September 10, there is little time left to discuss the Surrey batsman’s possible inclusion.

The West Indies Cricket Board has a new Chief Financial Officer. He is 38-year-old Barry Thomas, a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants in his native Trinidad & Tobago. He brings with him 15 years’ experience in the manufacturing and financial services sectors.Thomas received his early training at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he functioned at an Audit Senior level in the Audit and Business Advisory Services department, focussed on clients in the manufacturing sector. Most recently he was Financial Controller/Manager, Information Systems in the Young Sing Group.Thomas replaces compatriot Richard Jodhan, who resigned from the post nearly a year ago, after serving West Indies cricket for almost a decade. Jodhan was asked by the Board to stay on until a new CFO could be recruited and hired.”We would all like to thank Richard for his services to West Indies cricket and wish him success in any future endeavours” remarked Gregory Shillingford, chief executive officer of the WICB.”At the same time, we are delighted that we have been able to attract an experienced candidate like Barry to the post of Chief Financial Officer. We believe that he will become a key member of our senior management team and that he will make a significant contribution to the growth and development of West Indies cricket.”With the last year being tough financially for the WICB and the loss of one of our main sources of revenue — overseas tour guarantees — Barry has been recruited to help us prudently manage our resources at this time,” Shillingford noted.Thomas, whose appointment took effect on 1st May, 2002 says that he is “looking forward to joining the WICB and playing a major part in enhancing the organisation’s financial practices and procedures as it takes regional cricket forward.””West Indies cricket has now become a tremendous commercial enterprise, and I am looking forward to using my training and experience in financial management to help ensure that the organization is well-run and that a sustainable future is secured.” Thomas commented.Thomas has already moved to St. John’s, Antigua, where the WICB’s headquarters are located, with his wife, Eleanor, and two children, Gabrielle, aged six, and Christopher, aged four.

The new leaders of the Norwich Union League Division One, Worcestershire Royals, take on the bottom club, Durham Dynamos, in the next round of matches to be played this Sunday with every prospect of maintaining their place at the top of the table. Not only did they get there by ousting the existing leaders in their last match, but they meet a side still looking for their first point of the season. The unpredictability of cricket in this competition is one of its great appeals, but it would be a major upset if the Royals did not win again at New Road this weekend.Warwickshire Bears – the team deposed by the Royals last week – meet defending champions Kent Spitfires at Edgbaston. The Spitfires came through strongly at the end of last season to grab the title and are in a reasonable position now, two wins away from the leaders but with a game in hand on the Royals and two in hand on the Bears. And a win at Edgbaston would really give their season some momentum, something against which the Bears will be on their guard.There are two other fixtures in Division One. Glamorgan Dragons are level on points with the Kent Spitfires, but they have only played three matches in the competition so far this season. They go to Taunton to meet the Somerset Sabres buoyed by their recent success playing as Wales against England. Steffan Jones will revert to being a Sabre in this fixture after masquerading as a Dragon in the “international”.Nottinghamshire Outlaws have had a pretty miserable time this season. The only difference between their record and that of Durham Dynamos is that they had one match washed out, and so have two points to show for their endeavours. They have an east Midlands derby at Grace Road against Leicestershire Foxes who have at least won once this year, but once only.In Division Two the leaders are Gloucestershire Gladiators. They meet Essex Eagles who are six points behind but who have two matches in hand. If the Eagles are to soar, they will need to win this one, but they will be without their talismanic captain Ronnie Irani who is away on international duty. The Gladiators, on the other hand, will have all guns blazing.Surrey Lions are only two points adrift of the leaders, and they have what looks like an easy match against Lancashire Lightening, although they have to travel to Old Trafford. Lightening are languishing, just off the bottom, lost by six wickets in the corresponding match at The Oval, so they need to strike once in this fixture, let alone twice.In a process reminiscent of evolution itself, the Sussex Sharks move inland from their Hove headquarters to Arundel to play Middlesex Crusaders. The visitors have four points from two wash-outs so far this season, while the Sharks have only just begun to show their teeth, although one win might suggest they are only milk teeth at this stage.