'A lot of distractions for CSK' - Fleming

Stephen Fleming, the Chennai Super Kings coach, has admitted his team have to cope with a lot of off-field "distractions" this IPL season. He experienced anxious moments in the lead-up to the tournament as the courts decided on whether to suspend the franchise, he said, but stressed that the nerves are steadying with the team back together.

"There's a lot going on, I won't lie," Fleming said in Dubai on Monday. "There are a lot of distractions. [Leading up to the tournament] I think we were all uncertain about how it was going to play out.

"We were desperate to get back into the fold of the team and have another chance to find some finals and carry on the history of CSK. It has only been six years but a lot has happened. It's nice to get back into a team environment, where you're somewhat cocooned, and get a bit more info. All we can do is try and be consistent again but yeah, it [controversy] is there, we acknowledge it."

The franchise has been on shaky ground ever since one of their officials, Gurunath Meiyappan, who is also the son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan - the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements, the company that owns Super Kings - was arrested on charges of cheating, forgery and fraud two days before the IPL 2013 final, amid the spot-fixing crisis. The Supreme Court of India, while hearing a case related to Srinivasan's conflict of interest issues, proposed suspending the franchise last month, but decided against it in the end.

Fleming said getting together again, as a team, could act as a balm for the players' nerves. "I almost take it for granted that getting back into the team environment is the most important thing. We'll touch on the controversies [in team talks], if we think it's an issue. But I think most players are pretty relieved to be back and playing together."

Super Kings have been the most consistent team in terms of on-field performances (five finals in six seasons, with two titles) and squad selection. This year, though, the team will have a bit of a new look to it: Michael Hussey, Albie Morkel, S Badrinath and M Vijay are not with Super Kings, while a few big names like Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith and Samuel Badree come in.

Speaking about the changes, Fleming said: "I think there are some pretty powerful additions to the side. Some new tools to play around with this season. There has been a shift in that we've lost a great player in Michael Hussey, but we've gone for some power players that, on their day, can win games.

"We've learnt a lot in the last six years. Now we're trying to build a side that is more powerful. The players we've picked have quality and experience, these guys have done it before. Smith, in particular, has done it before for Mumbai. McCullum's the same - he didn't have much of a go at KKR, but we're looking forward to getting him an opportunity. Overall I know we've got a good side because the Indian core of players is dynamic."

Super Kings are particularly strong in the spin department, with the in-form R Ashwin and Badree backed up by Ravindra Jadeja. Fleming said this should help them, given the conditions in the UAE. "It's going to be important, looking at the practice surfaces and the heat naturally. It's going to play a big part.

"We're pretty comfortable - there's Jadeja, Ashwin, Badree is an excellent buy from West Indies, and we have Pawan Negi [a young left-arm spinner from Delhi] as well. Raina has bowled a bit too. We're pretty confident about the balance."

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Bell stages grand recovery

Warwickshire 87 and 387 for 7 (Bell 144*, Clarke 79, Jordan 3-98) lead Sussex 229 (Joyce 117) by 245 runs
Scorecard

So, bit by bit, little by little, the shape of the new England team becomes just a little clearer.

This was a day on which Sam Robson all but nailed down the role of opening batsman, the day that Moeen Ali emerged as the most credible spin option - or the least incredible, anyway - and the day that Chris Jordan reasserted his claims for one of the seam bowling positions. Indeed, in this form, it will prove hard to deny him the new ball.

While there was little doubt that Ian Bell or Alastair Cook would retain their places, both they and the England selectors will sleep just a little easier knowing they have centuries under their belts. Indeed, in the case of Cook, it was only his second century since May. If only a wicketkeeper would emerge, or remain fit, the selectors' job would largely be done.

Here, in front of the watching national selector James Whitaker, Bell provided a reminder, if any was required, of his undoubted class. He left the ball well, defended stoutly, concentrated almost without aberration and, as ever, put away the poor ball with a grace granted to very few. This was the 46th first-class century of his career, his 20th for Warwickshire and his fourth against Sussex.

Just as was the case against Australia last summer, Bell delivered when his side were under pressure. True, the Sussex attack - impressive though it is - might lack the potency of the Australian attack and true, the level of pressure on a quiet day at Edgbaston might not be comparable to that of an Ashes Test. But, on a pitch that continues to offer assistance to the bowlers and in a situation where his side's reliance upon him was absolute, Bell provided an innings of character, class, composure and substance. His driving was a delight and the late cut he played off Jon Lewis was a thing of beauty.

"In my early days, maybe I scored a lot of nice runs that looked good on the eye but really didn't change the course of the game," Bell said afterwards. "But in the last two, three or four years, I've started to score those [important] runs a lot more often.

"The way last summer went against Australia really gave me a lot of confidence - I came in at 20 for 3 a lot - so it was nice to get back into that rhythm."

For Jonathan Trott, the future is less certain. While a thorough examination of the facts does not really support the theory that he was undone by the short ball in Australia, the line between perception and reality is sometimes blurred to the point of irrelevance.

It will not be remembered that, in this game, he played the moving ball in Warwickshire's first innings better than anyone, but it will be remembered that he was, in the second innings, struck twice by short balls from Jordan - once on the helmet, once on the shoulder - and that he fell when pulling another short ball directly to the man positioned for the shot at backward square leg. These are early days in the comeback, but this was not a performance that will have had Whitaker pencilling his name down on any team sheets.

It would be cruel fortune if, in a match that has been enriched by Sussex's excellent catching in the cordon, it was one of their missed chances that proved crucial. But the fact is that Bell was reprieved on 23 when Ed Joyce, at gully, was unable to cling on to a tough, low chance offered off the bowling of Jimmy Anyon. Had it been held, the match might well have been completed within two days.

Joyce also put down a sharp chance offered by Jeetan Patel, on 28, off the deserving Jordan. It allowed Warwickshire's eighth-wicket partnership to graduate, in the eyes of Sussex, from irritation to genuine threat with the bucolic Patel dominating a unbroken stand of 69. With a lead approaching 250 and two days to go, Warwickshire are right back in this game. Sussex looked weary, both with the ball and in the field, some time before the end.

While the Sussex seam attack is excellent, their spin attack is modest and threatens to derail any aspirations they have on the Championship title. Ashar Zaidi may yet emerge as a good quality batsman who bowls useful spin in limited-overs cricket, but his low, slingy left-arm action will surely have little joy in the Championship. Luke Wells and Rory Hamilton-Brown, who were also pressed into service as spinners, are not the answer, either.

When Bell came to the crease, Warwickshire were two wickets down and still 98-runs in arrears. Varun Chopra, who has not enjoyed a distinguished game, left one that swung back at him and Laurie Evans, his weight perhaps falling to the offside, edged a decent delivery that may have left him. Later Chris Woakes and Tim Ambrose were also beaten by deliveries that bounced and left them just a fraction. It was fine bowling.

But with Rikki Clarke, Bell added 132 in 40 overs for the sixth wicket. Clarke, who has now added responsibility to his array of natural talents, resisted with admirable patience and waited for the over-pitched delivery before launching into those flowing drives.

He sustained one sharp blow to the right hand off Jordan when on 49 that clearly caused him great pain and reduced him to something approaching a one-handed batsman afterwards. He went for an X-ray after play and may well have sustained a broken finger. His absence in the Warwickshire slip cordon, and with the ball, could yet prove crucial in this game.

So, too, might be the absence of the heavy roller. Both sides have used their allocation in this game - Warwickshire before play on day two; Sussex at lunch on day one - and without its deadening effects, it may be that the pitch offers increasing help to spinners and seamers alike.

"I always thought 200 would be a tough chase at Edgbaston with some deterioration," Bell said. "It does spin towards the end and there will be some help for Patel."

Despite a first innings score of just 87, Warwickshire might even have their noses in front at this stage.

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Robson presses England claims

Middlesex 296 for 4 trail Nottinghamshire 326 by 30 runs
Scorecard

It has been less than a week since Middlesex collapsed twice at the hands of Sussex, but a fine hundred from Sam Robson which moved him ever closer to a potential Test debut and a punchy half-century from Eoin Morgan ensured they would not repeat the blip against Nottinghamshire.

Indeed, for all the talk of England's turmoil and Middlesex's soft underbelly, today, for one and a half sessions at least, today was a welcome calm that for both parties gave way for quiet optimism.

News filtered through to the upper tier of the Compton Stand of hundreds for Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, as Robson and Morgan were well into a 203-run partnership - the highest third innings partnership since Chris Rogers and Dawid Malan put on the same amount at Lord's, against Lancashire in August 2012.

Robson is promising to follow a highly-productive Lions winter with more heavy runs with Middlesex. An England debut against Sri Lanka at Lord's, his home ground, is becoming likelier by the day.

Idle natter turned to fantasy England XIs; some were balanced, others not. Others wondered if the hosts could take defeat out of the game and push on for the win. At stumps, Morgan felt it was too early to consider being involved in either.

It was that pair of 2012 that fell in 10th over of Middlesex's first innings, Rogers nicking off to third slip and Malan not moving his feet to nick behind, leading to groans from spectators, who feared the worst. At that stage, Peter Siddle had experimented with some hooping outswingers that had Robson groping outside off stump and Luke Fletcher was rewarded, twice, for getting the ball to nibble from his great height.

"I loved watching him bat," said Morgan at stumps, who revealed that the pair had never shared any time before coming together at 19 for 2. It was a baffling fact given they looked so at ease in each other's company, with styles that complemented each other to exasperate a disciplined Notts attack.

While the right-left combination helped push the bowlers back, it was their differing approach to lengths that really had Middlesex ahead on points. Back of a length deliveries which Robson would leave or defend were being drive, square, by Morgan, with his punchier wrists and springy footwork. Where Robson would bound into the full ones, driving crisply straight and through cover, Morgan would defend or pick up singles.

The afternoon session represented the crowning glory of this bond as they added 132 runs, with little but one awry shot from Morgan, which landed safely between cover and the boundary rider running in from deep point. It was here that Robson brought up his first Championship century of the season.

Very few openers on the county circuit convert toil to grace with as much ease as Robson. Once he got into the groove, he took control of the game and began timing the ball well in front of the wicket. Against Samit Patel, he skipped to the pitch of the ball and placed him expertly through a packed cover region. His return tomorrow on 144 gives Middlesex the edge and, with John Simpson set and Gareth Berg and Ollie Rayner to come, ambitions of a first innings lead.

Morgan kept himself in check, manipulating the field as he does in the one day game, while refraining from shots many feel he should leave to that format. There was one over-the-shoulder dink which earned him three runs, but the evidence from the man himself is that new priorities mean a new approach.

Over the winter he had discussions with Paul Downton, incoming managing director of the ECB at the time, which touched on "where his head was at" in regards to Test cricket. His withdrawal from the IPL and a quick hefty pay-packet was as clear an indication as any that Morgan was given assurances that he was in the reckoning for Test consideration after two years out of that particular game following a horrendous tour of the UAE.

Even with the change of heart towards participating in this year's edition of the IPL, he needed assistance from the ECB and the BCCI so that he could waive his contractual obligations to participate in the 2014 auction. "They [the ECB and BCCI] were very accommodating," he reflected.

As aware off the field as he is on it, Morgan is not fooled by his knocked today. He will know that it is his highest score in Championship cricket since a century at Leicestershire back in April 2009. He will also know that his last first class hundred was a Test century against India in August 2011.

For now, his focus is runs and success for Middlesex. His 86 today has gone some way to ensuring the latter is a very real possibility at the halfway stage of this match.

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Ronchi, Craig in New Zealand Test squad

Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi and offspinner Mark Craig will be hoping for Test debuts on New Zealand's tour of the West Indies after being named in a 15-man squad for the three-Test series in June. The unexpected call-up for Craig came after Jeetan Patel was reportedly told he was in the squad but made himself unavailable so he could focus on a full season for Warwickshire and be with his wife and baby, who are based with him in the UK.

In a statement, New Zealand Cricket said Patel was unavailable for "personal reasons", while the team will again be without Daniel Vettori, who felt his bowling loads were not yet up to the intensity of Test cricket. The selectors did not consider Jesse Ryder or Doug Bracewell, declaring that they were "yet to satisfy the selectors that they have their off-field issues under control".

There was still room for opener Peter Fulton despite his run of low scores over the home summer - after a first-innings 61 against West Indies in Dunedin he managed only 3, 6, 11, 10, 13, 5, 13 and 1 in the remaining home Tests. Tom Latham was included but coach Mike Hesson stressed it was as a batting back-up only, with Ronchi the reserve gloveman to BJ Watling.

Ronchi, who turns 33 next week, has been a regular member of New Zealand's limited-overs squads since moving from Australia and qualifying for his birth country in 2013. However, he is yet to be given a chance in Test cricket, and Hesson said Ronchi would also provide middle-order batting cover "as he's a good player of spin bowling".

The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Craig, who at 27 has played only 22 first-class matches for Otago since making his debut in February 2011. An offspinner who finished the Plunket Shield season with 22 wickets at 39.72, Craig was described by Hesson as a man who had been in the sights of the selectors for some time and whose spin "will be valuable against their left-handed heavy top-order batting line-up".

The absence of Vettori was not a great surprise given that he has not bowled a ball since returning home from a BBL stint with the Brisbane Heat. Vettori had been gradually increasing his workload and had played four Plunket Shield matches earlier in the season but he struggled with a back problem following the BBL.

New Zealand's tour begins with two tour matches in Jamaica starting late next month, followed by Tests in Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana throughout June. A pair of Twenty20 matches will follow.

"While we gained a convincing 2-0 Test series victory against the West Indies in December, they'll be a totally different proposition in their conditions," Hesson said. "They'll have the added motivation to perform well in the first match which will be Chris Gayle's 100th Test."

Test squad Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (capt), Tom Latham, Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi.

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India-Pakistan Test series likely in 2015

Pakistan's conditional support for the ICC revamp hinges on the promise of six series against India, including a 'home' series in the Middle East as part of an upcoming, reworked eight-year FTP cycle from 2015 to 2023, ESPNcricinfo has learnt.

The change in the PCB's stance has taken place on the condition that Pakistan would be involved in bilateral series against all Full Members, including India. If Indo-Pak series are officially slotted into the eight-year FTP, it could also involve a 'home' series for Pakistan against India in the United Arab Emirates.

The PCB is now waiting for a final confirmation from the BCCI following its Working Committee meeting, which the PCB have been informed, is expected to take place in the next 15 days. It will then enable the PCB to work out a long-term broadcasting deal with regular India series at its centre.

The PCB's opposition to the ICC's original position paper that recommended a remodeling of the ICC's administrative structure and its revenue distribution rested on the argument that it was against the principle of "equality." However, following certain changes in the resolutions, as well as the possibility of playing India frequently led PCB to support the governance, finance and FTP changes in the ICC, which was driven entirely by the BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia.

ESPNcricinfo understands that all the nine member boards have confirmed their earlier commitments with PCB until 2020 and are chalking out a fresh plan for the period from 2020 to 2023.

The BCCI could look to slot in as many as six series against Pakistan, due to the gaps that are available in the existing FTP calendar. The first of these bilateral series could take place in the UAE in the winter of 2015. "Cricket between both countries is beneficial as the Pakistan government is also keen to revive ties with India on a high note," PCB chairman Najam Sethi said on Friday following the two-day ICC board meeting in Dubai.

India and Pakistan have not played a full series since the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, which India blamed on militants based across the border. However, Pakistan visited India for a short limited-over series in December 2012, but despite not getting any revenue out of the series, it was regarded as a stepping stone in reviving cricketing ties between both countries.

Since July 2013, Pakistan have been without a long-term broadcasting deal, one of the major sources of income for the PCB. The PCB already had to deal with a long-standing budget-deficit, which in August 2013, was calculated at nearly PKR 500 million. The PCB estimates that after committing to the ICC revamp, the financial benefits could reach PKR 30 billion from the bilateral ties, the major chunk of which will be earned from hosting India.

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Lyth gets that Taunton feeling

Yorkshire 342 for 5 (Rashid 85*, Lyth 85, Ballance 77) v Somerset
Scorecard

A batsman seeking form and international recognition relishes coming to Taunton. That was always the case in the fondly remembered days when Phil Frost cut pitches for avaricious run-gatherers and not much has changed in this era of relaid surfaces.

So it was that Adam Lyth, who often scores heavily here, scored 85, Adil Rashid one run fewer with the prospect of a hundred on the morrow, and Gary Ballance, seeking the attention of England's selectors as he looks to retain his place post-Australia, 77 with a measure of conviction.

In 11 innings at the County Ground, Lyth has made 646 first-class runs at an average of 64.06. In one match in 2010 alone, he struck 142 and 93, and there was a further century last year. Nothing seemed more certain than that he would reach a third century in his visits here: he saw off the new ball after Yorkshire had been put in, swiftly making 69 for the first wicket with Alex Lees, and collected runs all around the wicket against seam - no shortage - and spin, represented here by Johann Myburgh, when George Dockrell might well have been a better bet.

It was to his opening attack that Marcus Trescothick looked upon making the contentious decision to ask Yorkshire to bat. There was a little grass left on the pitch, but then that is often so here. In choosing to omit Jamie Overton, who has, admittedly, been troubled by tendonitis, the captain was asking two change bowlers, Alfonso Thomas and Lewis Gregory, to make the initial breakthrough.

As it transpired, Craig Overton, preferred to his twin, and Craig Meschede, who really were the change bowlers, could well have been given first bowl.

Meschede uprooted Lees' off stump with a yorker that the batsman appeared to see late and promptly had Kane Williamson caught at short mid off for a duck, the drive unconvincing. Andrew Gale became a third victim, leg before for 24. All the while, Lyth prospered. He spoke a year ago of hoping to play for England, but the reality is that too many of his colleagues have the same aspirations, and indeed have achieved them already.

When he was out, having earlier been dropped by Craig Kieswetter on 70, and having struck 14 fours in a stay of 160 balls, it was an unfortunate dismissal. His swivel pull was properly middled and the catch, by Gregory at midwicket off Overton, was a terrific one - right handed and stooping to his right in anticipation.

Ballance , meanwhile, had taken 25 balls to get off the mark. Not that this affected his cover driving: one superlative front foot shot through the covers off Meschede was the shot of the day. Now partnered by Rashid, he progressed inexorably towards a century, only to be beaten when Gregory took the new ball. He had struck ten fours and his partnership with Rashid realised 115 off 32 overs.

Rashid is tipped by Dickie Bird, who was on the ground in his presidential year with Yorkshire, to play for England before Bird's term of office ends. We shall hold him to that forecast - made, it should be noted, before this innings was underway.

All wristiness in his flicks and square drives, Rashid was 15 short of his century at the close of a bright day. Would Yorkshire have batted had they won the toss? "We were happy to do so," said Jason Gillespie, their coach, doubtless not wishing to sound critical of Trescothick, his old opponent from their Ashes days.

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Jordan's excellence sets up Joyce

Sussex 229 (Joyce 117, Barker 3-52) lead Warwickshire 87 (Trott 37, Magoffin 3-15, Jordan 3-15, Lewis 3-18) by 142 runs
Scorecard

The national selector, James Whitaker, might have ventured to Edgbaston to see the batting of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell, but it was Ed Joyce who stood out amid the wreckage of a day on which 20 wickets fell.

At a time when Associate nations have been given a pathway, albeit a pathway strewn with obstacles, along the route to Test cricket, Joyce provided a compelling reminder of the class of batsmen outside the current elite. In seam-friendly conditions in which everyone else struggled, he oozed quality, compiling a century from 116 balls. Only two other men passed 30 and no-one else on either side managed to reach 40.

Joyce's enterprise left Sussex with a potentially decisive first-innings lead of 142 as they immediately threatened to add to an innings victory in their opening Championship match of the season against Middlesex at Hove.

This was Joyce's second first-class century of the season - following an innings of 103 against Loughborough MCCU - and his 14th since joining Sussex at the start of 2009. It was chanceless until he reached 100 - Trott then put down a relatively straightforward chance on the midwicket boundary - and was studded with fluent drives through the covers and graceful flicks off the pads. There are few higher-quality, more elegant batsmen in the county game.

While Joyce may take the headlines, Sussex's dominant position was established by their seamers. Utilising helpful conditions expertly, a quartet of bowlers that have all been deemed surplus to requirements by Surrey at one stage or another dismissed Warwickshire for their lowest first-class total this century.

Indeed, it was only the third time this century they have been dismissed for under 100 and is their lowest total since their 86 against Essex in 1999. It was also their lowest total against Sussex since they were dismissed for 43 here in 1982.

Chris Jordan, in particular, can only have impressed Whitaker. Bowling at a sharp pace, finding movement both ways and maintaining an excellent line and length, he cut through the top-order with a series of deliveries that were close to unplayable. Certainly Laurie Evans could have done little with the ball that bounced and left him, while Varun Chopra and Bell were also victims of fast, well-directed deliveries that drew strokes and moved late to take the edge.

Odd though it sounds for a team that lost all 10 of its wickets before lunch, Warwickshire were victims more of excellent bowling and slip catching - six wickets fell to catches in the cordon - than they were guilty of poor batting.

It was a scenario that caused Bell to rue his decision to bat first upon winning the toss. He later admitted he had "got that one wrong," but, after lunch, as conditions eased, it was easy to see why he had batted first. In truth, it was an excellent toss to lose and Joyce admitted that he, while he would have chosen to bowl, he was in two minds about what to do.

The ECB's pitch liaison officer, Jack Birkenshaw, left after tea having declared himself satisfied with the pitch. There was some seam movement, as you would expect on April 13, but much of the damage was done by swing. That has nothing to do with the pitch.

Jordan received excellent support from Steve Magoffin, who created indecision in the batsmen's minds by moving the ball both ways, and Jon Lewis, who would rarely have seen conditions as much to his liking as this in his spell at The Oval. Jimmy Anyon, back at one of his previous clubs, also claimed the 300th first-class wicket of his career when Chris Woakes attempted to turn a straight one into the leg side.

"Jordan would bring something new to the England team," Joyce said afterwards. "He bowls with pace, he swings the ball, he is a good first slip and he bats well. He was exceptional today."

The one man who looked comfortable was Trott. Given a rousing reception by the 1,500 spectators enjoying the Spring sunshine, Trott played the moving ball expertly and looked every inch a Test-class batsman. It was some surprise when, left with the tail for company, he attempted to force the pace and, in trying to run one to third man, chopped a ball on to his stumps.

"They bowled outstandingly well," Bell agreed later. "There actually weren't that many bad shots. You saw some genuine dismissals and Jordan, especially, was brilliant. He bowled exactly where we didn't want it. We're a long way behind in this game and we have to come out scrapping tomorrow."

Perhaps the day could have been even better for Sussex. By the time they began their reply, conditions had eased considerably and they had an opportunity to bat Warwickshire out of the game. Starting brightly against some loose bowling from Chris Wright and Keith Barker, they were brought to heel by the excellent Woakes and canny Jeetan Patel and may yet come to regret some profligate batting. Joyce apart, they batted poorly.

A first innings lead of 142 is substantial, certainly, but with several batsmen falling to loose strokes - Joyce pulled directly to the midwicket fence where Trott made amends for his earlier error; Rory Hamilton-Brown heaved across the line; Luke Wells turned one to mid-wicket and Ben Brown edged a waft - they may yet reflect that they have missed a chance to kill off a dangerous adversary.

Sussex have a poor record at Edgbaston. They have only won once in the Championship here since 1961 and that was back in 1982.

"We're a little frustrated," Joyce continued. "We would have liked to be five or six down. But Woakes came back at us really well and Warwickshire probably have the strongest seam unit in the country. We expect an attritional day tomorrow."

The other shadow on Sussex's day was the continuing struggles of Matt Prior with an Achilles injury. Prior has struggled with Achilles problems for a couple of years and, having not been fit to keep wicket in Sussex's first game against Middlesex, was obliged to pull out of this game entirely.

Sussex hope that an injection and a two-week period of rest will resolve the issue but, with England looking to rebuild with a team that can see them through the next few years, there have to be doubts over Prior's long-term fitness. At present, Sussex hope to have him back for their game against Somerset, though it may be he is able only to bat and not keep wicket.

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Kervezee keeps Worcs afloat

Kent 39 for 2 trail Worcestershire 224 (Kervezee 54, Joseph 3-43) by 185 runs
Scorecard

New Road saw 12 wickets fall on day one as Worcestershire were dismissed cheaply in their Championship Division Two match against Kent. The fact that the game was able to be held at all was a credit to Worcestershire, seven weeks after the ground was under 10 feet of water.

Worcestershire began their season with a rain-affected draw against Hampshire and were bowled out for just 224 in their home opener, with Alexei Kervezee the only man to get past 50. But they dismissed Kent openers Sam Northeast and Rob Key after tea to leave the visitors on 39 for two in reply at the close of play.

Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat but lost Matthew Pardoe for a duck as he was bowled lbw by Doug Bollinger, Kent's overseas signing. That brought Moeen Ali to the crease and he rattled off 41 in just 37 balls, including a six off England team-mate James Tredwell that led to a replacement ball being needed.

Moeen was then bowled by Darren Stevens and Tom Kohler-Cadmore followed just two balls later lbw for a duck.

Kervezee put on 92 for the fourth wicket with Daryl Mitchell before he was caught by Tredwell off the bowling of Robbie Joseph and Mitchell followed soon after. The skipper nicked to wicketkeeper Sam Billings off Joseph to exit for 47, a continuation of the good form that saw him register 172 not out at Southampton last week.

Ben Cox was next to go for a four-ball duck and Ross Whiteley (12) followed, bowled by Bollinger, but not before he had hit Tredwell for a second six. This time, the ball was found. Shaaiq Choudhry, Gareth Andrew and Jack Shantry all made useful contributions but Worcestershire will have wanted to make more on a glorious day.

Kent made a solid start and were 31 without loss when Shantry trapped Key in front for 11. Choudhry soon rapped Northeast on the pads to send him back for 18 but Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendan Nash saw the visitors through to stumps.

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Rohit looks forward to Hussey masterclass

Rohit Sharma has said he hopes to pick up the skills of consistent cricket from Michael Hussey, who will be joining Mumbai Indians for IPL 2014. Hussey was not retained by his previous franchise, Chennai Super Kings, and was bought by the defending IPL champions for Rs 5 crores ($833,000 approx) in the auction in February.

Hussey's inclusion is expected to strengthen Mumbai's top order that is missing Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Dwayne Smith from last season. The bowling is also missing Mitchell Johnson, who was one of the leading wicket-takers in their title win, but Rohit said that the presence of Zaheer Khan was a boost.

"Except Mitchell Johnson and Dwayne Smith, we have pretty much the same side," he told the Indian Express. "We wanted to buy Johnson and used the joker card too but sadly it couldn't happen. However, the core players still remain the same; plus, we have Michael Hussey and Zaheer Khan, who bring a lot of experience. So picking the right combination will be important for us. On a personal note, I'm looking forward to learn from Hussey how he manages to be so consistent."

Rohit, who took over as captain from Ricky Ponting midway last season, said the leadership role had given him confidence that he carried forward into international cricket. He also stressed that the biggest test for most teams this season would not be the new conditions in UAE, but finding a team spirit right away due to the formation of new squads.

"More than the playing conditions, what will be the key for most of the teams is how quickly every player gels with the other," he said. "After the auction, the teams have many new members and it will be a challenge for them to perform as a group. If the atmosphere in the dressing room is friendly and positive, then it is reflected on the field. Right combinations will be the key to success. These will be challenging two months ahead."

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Baroda in final despite loss, Goa fall just short

Group A

Prashant Gupta's unbeaten maiden T20 hundred helped Uttar Pradesh chase down a 179-run target against Haryana, boosting their run rate and, eventually it turned out, putting them in the final against Baroda on Monday.*

Prashant slammed 102 off 58 balls striking five fours and seven sixes as he guided the run chase with steady partnerships. He had good support from Eklavya Dwivedi and Akshdeep Nath as UP achieved the target with four balls to spare.

Earlier, Haryana were reduced to 119 for 5 in the 14th over after their openers Avi Barot and Rahul Dewan had added 63. Late cameos from Rahul Dalal (24 from 19 balls) and Lokesh Sharma (16 off 10 balls), however, lifted the side to a competitive 178 for 8.

Both Goa - one of the most dominant teams in this tournament - and Gujarat needed to win big to topple UP at the top of the points table, and seal their place in the final. Both teams fell short, Goa heartbreakingly so. Gujarat needed to win by roughly 30 runs, defending 180. Goa needed to chase it down before the completion of the 15th over. Gujarat didn't get close, Goa fell short by roughly two balls. Needing a boundary off 14.4 to lift their net run rate over UP's, the set Harshad Gadekar was out caught. The following delivery, the other set batsman, Rohit Asnodkar was bowled by left-arm seamer Kamlesh Thakor. Goa finished the game with a four one ball later, but it was not enough - again it was so close yet so far for them; had they managed a six off this final delivery, their net run rate would still have been marginally better than UP's.

That they were able to get so close was once again down to a solid platform set at the top - opener Swapnil Asnodkar slammed 64 off 28 deliveries.

If Gujarat were in with a good chance of their own, that was also because of the solid beginning their top order game them. Priyank Panchal and Rajdeep Darbar added 86 in nine overs, before No. 3 Smit Patel hit 50 not out of 31 to take them to a very competitive 180.

Group B

Baroda qualified for the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy despite yielding their three-match winning streak in the Super League. Kerela were joined with them on 12 points with the victory, but were 0.114 points shy in the run-rate battle. The fact that it got that close was because of an unmitigated assault from Raiphi Gomez. He razed 42 off 19 balls, with three fours and three sixes to imbue momentum to a meandering Kerala innings. Jafar Jamal held the other end during a stand of 55 runs in 30 balls as a scoreline of 81 for 5 in 14.1 was transformed to 152 for 6 in 20 overs.

Aditya Waghmode kept Baroda in the hunt with a well-paced half-century. But the middle overs proved disastrous as KJ Rakesh and Rohan Prem orchestrated a collapse - five wickets for 18 runs. Waghmode was the first domino who fell after scoring 50 off 32 balls. The tail realised the futility of an equation that demanded 48 off 13 balls and ushered Baroda through to the 20 overs to salvage vital run-rate points.

A fifty from Kshitiz Sharma and seven wickets shared between Javed Khan and Yogesh Nagar helped Delhi beat Rajasthan by seven runs.

Kshitiz's 57 off 42 balls had four fours and four sixes and helped lift Delhi from 36 for 3 to 121 before Sumit Narwal smacked a quick 17 off seven balls to take the score to 144 for 4.

In reply, Arjit Gupta looked set to steer Rajasthan to victory, smacking a 36-ball 72 with five fours and six sixes. His dismissal in the 13th over, however, created instability within the ranks and two overs later, Ankit Lamba's dismissal triggered a slide that saw Rajasthan lose their last seven wickets for 21 runs to fold for 137. Javed and Nagar were the architects of the collapse and finished with 4 for 18 and 3 for 13 respectively.

12.45GMT, April 12: The round-up has been updated, after the completion of the Goa-Gujarat game.

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