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The alleged incident of corruption in Sri Lanka, revolving around a taped conversation, occurred before the SLPL started and will not affect its integrity, the league’s organisers said on Tuesday. The comments came on a day when a Sri Lankan paper said it had received the tape but chose not to publish its contents following doubts over its authenticity.Sandiip Bhammer, CEO of Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the league’s promoters, said the corruption allegations had not cast aspersions on the tournament’s integrity. “The allegations were made and the anti-corruption people alerted prior to the tournament launching, so if anything, the anti-corruption will be even more vigilant during the tournament,” he said. “They are just allegations at this point. Nothing has been confirmed.”Meanwhile, the published a statement claiming they had been first to gain possession of the tape, but decided not to publish due to “difficulty in establishing the authenticity of the recording”. The conversation is said to be almost entirely in Hindi, and appears to be about fixing matches in the SLPL.The tape is said to have been given to the newspaper through an unknown source who claimed to be close to the SLPL on August 7. After enlisting a translator to interpret the conversation, staff decided to alert the SLC and SEV.The tape was then handed to the ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) on August 9. SLC are currently investigating the allegations in coordination with the ACSU. SLC officials declined to comment any further on the issue.The SLPL has suffered poor crowds during its first three days, and the allegations come as yet another hurdle for a tournament that has experienced severe teething issues. The SLPL was first announced for 2011 but was abandoned weeks before the tournament was scheduled, due to the withdrawal of Indian players, around whom much of the tournament sponsorship had revolved. This year’s tournament, which began on Saturday, was preceded by a week in which several high-profile players, including Chris Gayle and Shakib Al Hasan, withdrew through injury.The anti-corruption measures for the SLPL are identical to those implemented for international matches. Two members of the ACSU are in Sri Lanka to oversee the tournament; they are the same officers who were present during the recently concluded India series and the Pakistan tour in June.

West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has bounced back from an indifferent tour of England with a Player-of-the-Series performance – 13 wickets and an economy of 2.92 – in the 4-1 victory against New Zealand. Narine had also taken seven wickets in the two Twenty20s that preceded the ODIs and his captain Darren Sammy said he was “unplayable” in home conditions.In England, Narine was wicketless in the Edgbaston Test that was ruined by rain, took only one wicket in two ODIs and none in the Twenty20. At home, however, Narine’s variations led West Indies to their first ODI series victory over any team other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since 2009.”In our conditions, he [Narine] is unplayable,” Sammy said. “Especially, when we post a good total, knowing that I am going to get 60 balls from him. I know what he is going to do. Any situation, you can call on him, and it is good to have someone like that in your team who you can turn to at any given time. I know he is going to continue to do well for us and have a very successful career.”Narine finished the series with a career-best haul of 5 for 27, bowling West Indies to a 20-run victory in the fifth ODI in St. Kitts. “This is my first ODI series win for the West Indies and I’m happy it came at home in front of the home supporters,” he said. “It felt really good that they could celebrate with us. Today, I felt calm and relaxed running in to bowl. The ball came out nicely and I felt in control. Again today, the batsmen did a fantastic job to provide us with a score to bowl at.”West Indies were in trouble at 104 for 5 in the 27th over before fifties by Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell lifted the score to 241. Narine spearheaded the defence and said that his switch to a round the wicket line for most of his spell had troubled the batsmen.”I spoke to the coach [Ottis Gibson] and we looked at a few new ideas about how to attack the batsmen,” Narine said. “He suggested that I could look at some more variety and I went into the nets and worked hard at how I could come from around the wicket and look to get the ball to ‘pitch on’. As you saw today, it worked wonders as I got wickets from around the wicket. That is something I will definitely work on in the coming weeks.”Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain, also said Narine was the difference between the two teams in the series and his side would need to find ways to counter him in the Tests.”Most sides, when they need 50 off 40, they are going to get there at a canter, but when you have Narine in there, it is a bit of a struggle as you have to score runs off him and the other bowlers,” Taylor said. “He was the difference today on that wicket with three big wickets. It was big in the context of the match.”The West Indies coach Ottis Gibson was satisfied at his team’s success in the ODI and Twenty20 series after the disappointment in England.”In England – where we had pretty much the same side – we didn’t do that well and questions were asked,” he said. “It was really good to see how the guys have returned home and answered those questions with some good performances.”Almost everyone put his hand up and put in a strong performance when it was required. As a team we are happy with the series results and we look to take the momentum on from here.”

ScorecardKyle Coetzer went on to make 96 from 236 balls as Northants took control•ICC/Helge Schutz

Northamptonshire captain Andrew Hall and David Willey each took two wickets as the hosts continued to boss their match against Gloucestershire.Scotland international Kyle Coetzer made 96 off 236 balls, including 12 fours, as Northants added 109 to their overnight total before finally being bowled out for 411. In reply, Gloucestershire struggled to the close on 156 for 6, still 255 runs behind their opponents and needing another 106 to avoid the follow-on, with Willey taking 2 for 32 and Hall 2 for 33.Northants began the day looking strong on 302 for 4 with Coetzer resuming on 81 and Hall beginning his innings. Hall made just a single, however, before he was trapped lbw by Ian Saxelby in the third over of the day. Northants wicketkeeper David Murphy then made only eight before he departed in the same manner to give Liam Norwell his first wicket of the season.Coetzer then fell cheaply just four runs short of a second century of the season when he smashed Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman to Ed Young at deep midwicket. The collapse continued when Willey (18) was bowled by Norwell as the visitors clawed their way back into contention with Northants on 366 for 8 at lunch. Lee Daggett was the next to perish, but only after a painfully slow 15 off 80 balls, when he missed his drive off Kane Williamson and the ball hit his middle and off stumps.Young then took the final Northants wicket when David Burton (11) played him on to his stumps, leaving Con de Lange unbeaten on 40. Burton, who his playing in his first County Championship game of the season, struck in the fourth over of Gloucestershire’s reply when he emphatically bowled Benny Howell for 4. New Zealand international Williamson then made only seven before he edged Willey on to his leg stump.The visitors’ problems deepened when Alex Gidman departed for 4 when he was superbly caught by Hall at first slip off the bowling of Willey to leave them on 38 for 3 at tea.Chris Dent departed on 42 when Stephen Peters took a good low catch diving forward at extra cover off Daggett. Ian Cockbain followed for eight when he edged Hall to Peters, who this time was standing at first slip, before Hall struck again when he took out Will Gidman’s off stump to condemn the batsman to a 10-ball duck.Hamish Marshall and wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty then survived the final nine overs and will resume tomorrow on 49 and 9 respectively.

ScorecardKevin Pietersen’s counter-attacking innings turned the tide for Surrey•Getty Images

If learning quickly is the secret to success, it should be no surprise that Kevin Pietersen has enjoyed such a fine career. Pietersen has not played on too many surfaces like this in recent years. This New Road pitch is slow, low and offering seam assistance to the bowlers and his second innings here was only his seventh in championship cricket since he became a Test player in 2005.But, having fallen in Surrey’s first innings when he was drawn into a loose drive against one that left him – the sort of shot that may well have brought four on the flat tracks of Delhi – Pietersen learned the lessons and demonstrated his fine form with a much-improved second innings performance. Coming in with his side in some peril, against a ball just 37 deliveries old and with his team two down and 161 behind, he took the game by the scruff of the neck and may well have played its defining innings. Playing straight, advancing down the pitch to negate the seam movement, leaving anything away from his body and showing the confidence to hit the ball over the top when the opportunity arose, was his highest first-class score for Surrey and his highest championship score since 2008. It was a performance that bodes well for England.He will face sterner tests. In the absence of Alan Richardson, who was forced off the pitch with a shoulder injury in just the third over of Surrey’s second innings, the lack of depth in Worcestershire’s bowling was harshly exposed. With David Lucas and Richard Jones resting, Worcestershire were obliged to rely upon James Cameron’s medium pace and Moeen Ali’s off-spin. At one stage Pietersen plundered them for 31 in 11 deliveries, with five fours and a six coming in a ten-ball spell. It was like watching a lion wrestle a lamb.Pietersen played a key part in much improved Surrey second innings performance. Having been obliged to follow-on 172 runs behind, combative contributions from Pietersen, Tom Maynard and Rory Hamilton-Brown raised the prospect that Surrey may yet achieve only their second win having been forced to follow-on since 1868; the previous occasion came when they defeated Gloucestershire in 1995. No side has achieved that in the championship since Kent beat Essex in 2009. The loss of Richardson, whose 73 wickets last season played such an enormous part in Worcestershire avoiding relegation, is quite colossal. A scan showed fluid on the shoulder and a decision will be made in the morning whether to risk him. It seems most unlikely he will bowl again in this game.The trio of Pietersen, Hamilton-Brown and Maynard summed up the Surrey method of tackling adversity: if in doubt, give it a clout. Pietersen reached his half-century in 49 balls, Maynard, who treated a tired attack with disdain, made his a ball quicker and Hamilton-Brown, who thumped four of his first five balls for four, took 67. With the sun out, the ball softer and Worcestershire tiring, it was hard to avoid the conclusion that the game had turned by stumps.”KP is clearly in a very good place at the moment,” Chris Adams, Surrey’s team director said afterwards. “He is very confident, very happy with his game and is striking the ball very well. He went out with one view in mind – to play a positive innings – and it gave us the momentum. We are one session away from being in the stronger position.”Who knows where this game will end up but the thought did cross my mind that the best way of winning was to follow-on. We have all been in a situation where you have to chase down 140-150 in a couple of sessions on a wearing pitch that is getting a little bit more inconsistent in bounce, and if we can find ourselves in that position I will back us rather than Worcester.”Surrey’s first innings – a sorry affair characterised by a lack of technique or application from their batsmen – was worth only 113. Even that flattered them, though. Had Daryl Mitchell, at second slip, held on to chances offered by Rudolph on one and seven – Lucas was the unfortunate bowler on each occasion – Surrey would surely have failed to reach 100. As it was, from the depths of 43 for 8, a ninth-wicket stand of 60 saved at least a few blushes. Rudolph was last man out.Worcestershire’s bowlers deserve credit, too. Lucas and Jones, in particular, bowled beautifully, with the former swinging the ball with excellent control and the latter finding seam and swing movement at a sharpish pace. Lucas tired noticeably as the day wore on but Jones, who claimed eight wickets of the 14 to fall, demonstrated impressive stamina and continued to trouble batsmen throughout the day.This was an especially difficult day for Mark Ramprakash. Suffering a heavy cold, he was dismissed for a pair – only the third in a magnificent 26-year first-class career and the second in the championship (the other way came when Mark Ilott trapped him lbw twice for Essex in 1996) – in a miserable four hour period.Some will look at his average for this season – just 7.75 – check his age – now 42 – and draw conclusions about his fading powers. The sun is, no doubt, setting on a remarkable career but it would be wrong to write off Ramprakash just yet. In the first innings here he received a very fine ball that swung in sharply and beat his perfectly respectable forward defensive. In the second he walked after gloving one down the leg side. As Steve Rhodes put it “He’s had some very good balls and very bad luck.” The story of Ramprakash’s career isn’t over just yet; nor is this match.

The Indian president has approved Sachin Tendulkar’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. Tendulkar met the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday and was offered a seat in the upper house’s nominated category. He accepted the offer and his name went from the prime minister’s office to the home ministry, and then the office of the President, who formally approved the candidature.Tendulkar will fill one of 12 seats in the Rajya Sabha that are reserved for those persons “having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service.” Tendulkar is the first sportsman to be nominated in this category, which has no election process. (Former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey, who took oath as a Rajya Sabha yesterday, was elected.) Previous nominated MPs, who serve a six-year term, include the musician Ravi Shankar, the singer Lata Mangeshkar and the artist MF Husain.Tendulkar’s nomination had not been expected to meet with much opposition, given his stature in India. The nomination came from the ruling Congress party, which is currently fighting political battles on various fronts. Before meeting the prime minister, Tendulkar and his wife Anjali met the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who reportedly congratulated him on his hundred international centuries.The reaction from the main opposition party, the BJP, was swift and unambiguous. The party’s chief spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said: “Sachin is a great player. We are proud of him. If Sachin is being nominated surely he will devote some time to Parliament.”The BCCI also welcomed the move. “We are happy that Tendulkar’s services as a sportsperson has been recognised,” the Indian board’s chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told . “He’s been a true ambassador for the country and he deserves it.”However, commentators on the game were less enthusiastic in their response. Sanjay Manjrekar, a former team-mate of Tendulkar’s and now a media analyst, said he was shocked at the news, because he could never have imagined this to be how Tendulkar wound down his career. “My only fear is that this man is not suited for the kind of role he is being given. Until now, I’ve seen no sign of that. Even when the contracts dispute was on, when a players’ association was being formed, it was Anil Kumble in the forefront.” Manjrekar also wondered how Tendulkar would balance his cricket and commitments as an MP.Harsha Bhogle had a similar opinion*. “If the nomination is an honour, I am all for it,” he said. “But if it is an attempt at improving governance in India, then he doesn’t have the experience.”*02:59, April 27: Harsha Bhogle’s quote has been updated.

ScorecardCounty Championships cannot be won in the first month of the season but, as Somerset know only too well, you can go a long way towards messing up your title chances by losing too many early matches. Cast as favourites last year, they started that campaign with a couple of thumping defeats, to Warwickshire and Lancashire, and never threatened to make amends.One weather-hit day, limited to 36 overs by morning rain and post-tea bad light, provided insufficient evidence to predict with any degree of certainty how this contest will work out. Indeed, Middlesex in general and Joe Denly in particular should not feel dejected after a battling effort in testing conditions. Put in, they could have crumbled against the new ball but were guided to a far from disastrous 118 for 4 by Denly’s excellent unbeaten 64.What can be said with plenty of conviction though, is that Somerset have signed a belter of a fast bowler in Vernon Philander. And while he is only with the county for a couple of months ahead of South Africa’s tour of England, the 26-year-old should do enough damage during that period to keep Marcus Trescothick’s team firmly in the title hunt.When Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, recruited Philander during the winter the seamer was still ‘promising’. But 51 wickets in seven Tests, at a shade more than 14 runs apiece, has made him a red-hot property – so hot, in fact, that South Africa would prefer him to be wrapped in cotton wool this spring rather than making hay on the county circuit.They have urged Somerset to treat Philander with care and consideration, a request which the county will no doubt honour with the future in mind. But, on the basis of 12 high class overs, which yielded figures of 3 for 21, the bowler has every intention of making each delivery count whenever Trescothick throws him the ball.Despite heavy cloud and damp conditions, three Somerset pace bowlers – Steve Kirby, Craig Meschede and Peter Trego – were kept at bay without huge difficulty. It was a different matter, though, when Philander took centre stage.His third ball had to be played by Sam Robson but resulted in a thin edge behind while a second spell, after tea, saw Dawid Malan pinned lbw and Neil Dexter bowled off stump by one that appeared to keep a little low. But above and beyond that the new recruit asked a question with almost every delivery – against a county he briefly represented in 2008.Denly deserves great credit for denying Philander. He is Middlesex’s one major signing following their promotion as Division Two champions and he looked in terrific touch from the outset.Middlesex have been tipped by many to go straight back down. And maybe that is the way it will work out. But there was enough backbone about their batting to suggest they plan to fight mighty hard to stay where their supporters believe they belong.”People are entitled to their views,” said Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s managing director of cricket. “Yes, I suppose sides who have come up have tended to struggle in the past but I believe we have a squad that can be competitive if we play as well as we can.”

A match that could have gone 100 overs was finished in 26.4 at The Padang. Bahrain were shot out for 49 in 13.5 overs by Guernsey, who completed the chase in 12.5 overs with nine wickets in hand. Jamie Nussbaumer opened the bowling and took 5 for 19 in six overs for Guernsey, while David Hooper claimed 3 for 1 in his only over. GH Smit was the only Guernsey batsman to fall during the chase.The players had to toil for much longer at at the Indian Association Ground, where Malaysia beat Argentina by 47 runs on the D/L method. Malaysia batted first and made a brisk start – their openers adding 50 in 8.5 overs. Shafiq Sharif top scored with 61 but the rest of the batsmen did not contribute substantially. Malaysiya’s total had been boosted to 210 by 39 extras conceded by Argentina’s bowlers when rain ended the innings after 44.5 overs. Argentina were set a target of 162 in 29 overs but their chase was derailed by three run-outs that reduced them to 63 for 4. They were eventually restricted to 114 for 7. Hian Ralalage completed a fine all-round performance for Malaysia, following up his 31 off 34 balls with figures of 6-2-16-1.Singapore won another rain-hit contest at Kallang Ground, beating Cayman Islands by 80 runs on the D/L method. Singapore’s top and middle-order batsmen made useful contributions to reach 141 for 3 in 34 overs, when rain interrupted the innings. Chetan Suryawanshi’s 42 off 43 balls was the best score. The revised target for Cayman Islands was 203 in 32 overs and they were restricted to 122 for 8. The top order collapsed and they were 58 for 6 before Conroy Wright scored 46 to lead his team past 100. Mulewa Dharmichand took 3 for 12 in five overs for Singapore.

ScorecardEd Cowan and Steven Cazzulino built a handy opening stand for Tasmania in reply to New South Wales’ 7 for 341 declared on a second day of the Sheffield Shield match that was heavily interrupted by rain.Only 27.1 overs were bowled on day two of the twilight fixture, But Cowan and Cazzulino held firm to reach 0 for 81 against the Blues before the showers returned for good.Both formerly based in NSW, Cowan and Cazzulino have formed a useful opening combination for the Tigers this summer.