South Africans set world stages alight

South Africans continued to have a fundamental impact on cricket around the world. The perennial Andrew Hall led the charge with 5/22 against Leicestershire. Neil McKenzie and Johann Myburgh allowed Hampshire to win by three runs in a run-fest, and Craig Kieswetter’s thundering 100 gave Somerset victory over Nottinghamshire. Johan Botha continues to repay Shane Warne’s confidence in him, keeping the Rajasthan Royals in touching distance.

Lasith Malinga’s astonishing IPL continues, with another multi-wicket haul of 3/9, while Warne showed what the world is missing with his 3/16.

Two absolute standouts on the day: Ireland’s Niall O’Brien’s brutal 94 not out and Netherlands’ defeat of Yorkshire.

Anyone who thinks the “minnows” are going away because the ICL authorities say so has another think coming.

IPL

– Mumbai Indians 172/4 (Sharma 56*). Deccan Chargers 135/8 (Malinga 3/9). Mumbai Indians won by 37 runs.

– Kochi Tuskers Kerala 109 (Warne 3/16, Trivedi 3/19). Rajasthan Royals 111/2 (Watson 49, Dravid 44). Rajasthan Royals won by 8 wickets.

Clydesdale Bank 40

– Netherlands 190 (Mott 50*). Yorkshire 188/9 (Pyrah 69). Netherlands won by 2 runs. A great win for a talented team who are consistently under-rated. Not one of the top six Yorkshire batsmen made double figures.

– Scotland 215/7 (Mommsen 73*). Durham 219/5 (Muchall 95*). Durham won by 5 wickets.

– Glamorgan 197/8 (Walters 79; Lewis 4/41). Gloucestershire 198/7 (Gidman 64, Marshall 55). Gloucestershire won by 3 wickets.

– Hampshire 274/5 (McKenzie 87*, Myburgh 64). Warwickshire 271/9 (Clarke 59, Chopra 54; Jones 4/52). Hampshire won by 3 runs.

– Middlesex 206. Worcestershire 182 (Solanki 61; Berg 4/24). Middlesex won by 24 runs.

– Lancashire 201/5 (Moore 50). Unicorns 181/9. Lancashire won by 20 runs.

– Somerset 270/5 (Kieswetter 100, Buttler 94*). Nottinghamshire 223 (Mendis 4/35). Somerset won by 47 runs.

– Leicestershire 162 (Taylor 69; Hall 5/22). Northamptonshire 168/3 (O’Brien 94*). Northamptonshire won by 7 wickets. — Staff reporter, SportsCentral

• Image: Kevin Naicker