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ScorecardFile photo – Callum Ferguson scored his 16th first-class hundred•Getty Images

Callum Ferguson led South Australia’s efforts to forge a fourth-innings lead over New South Wales on the penultimate day of the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.Having been dominated by the Blues for two days, the Redbacks fought back gamely on the third from the moment Daniel Worrall pinned the NSW centurion Ed Cowan lbw without addition in the first over of the morning.From 3 for 332 the hosts subsided to 434 all out, with Worrall and the former NSW wristspinner Adam Zampa sharing eight wickets between them. SA made a disastrous start to their second innings when Pat Cummins had Sam Raphael caught behind and Jake Weatherald was then run out, both with only eight runs on the board.But Ferguson followed up his first innings 75 with another determined innings, and found useful support from the captain Travis Head (55) and then Jake Lehmann (46) to keep the Redbacks in the match, even if the English spinner Mason Crane deceived Ferguson to end his innings in the shadows of stumps.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:13

Watch – Highlights of Lahore Qalandars’ successful chase

Lahore Qalandars demonstrated that they had learned plenty of lessons from yesterday’s demoralising loss to Quetta, beating Islamabad United by six wickets. Chasing 159, slightly under par, Lahore received a trigger-boost courtesy Brendon McCullum and Jason Roy, who smashed 36 off the first two overs. Roy, often criticised for not turning style into substance, then established a 71-run partnership with Umar Akmal to set Lahore up for the finish, and stayed unbeaten on 60. A late cameo from Sunil Narine then snuffed Islamabad out of the contest.The defending champions started ominously, and had raced to 73 for 1 after nine overs. Grant Elliott dismissed openers Dwayne Smith and Sam Billings in his first over. He accounted for two more wickets and a catch to halt Islamabad’s progress. Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, rose to the occasion in a crisis, scoring 61 not out off 36 balls as Islamabad posted 158 for 7. The surface, however, was a belter and Lahore’s batsmen were far too explosive for Misbah’s men to keep them at bay.Where the match was won
With Billings and Smith rocking along at 73 without loss, and Brad Haddin and Shane Watson to follow, Islamabad looked to be in the form of the kind that helped them chase down 190 two nights ago against Peshawar Zalmi. Enter Elliott and the game changed. The medium pacer accounted for all four foreign recruits; his nagging, middle-stump line didn’t allow Islamabad’s batsmen to free their arms, and setting up a total that would have been significantly more challenging for McCullum’s side.The men that won it
On Friday, Roy looked in sparkling touch for the 14 balls that fetched him 27. The platform was set, but he threw it away. Today, though, he hung around after McCullum fell, turning in a much more sedate, yet tenacious batting performance, not dissimilar to the way his England captain Eoin Morgan batted in Peshawar’s seven-wicket win last night. Umar Akmal was lively at the other end, timing the ball beautifully in a 26-ball 35 to set the stage for Narine’s fireworks at the finish.The 21-run overs
Islamabad’s 34-year old left-arm spinner Imran Khalid, who has never played at international level, was given a baptism of fire today when Misbah asked him to open the bowling in the Powerplay with Roy and McCullum at the crease. It was an odd choice, and poor Khalid was evidently nervous; he bowled two wides and both line and length were all over the place. McCullum took a particular liking to him, thumping him for 21 runs in the over. It set Qalandar’s up for the chase. There was symmetry to the Lahore assault, with Watson also going for 21 runs in the 17th over, which put the game beyond all doubt.The moment of the match
There was a shot played in this match you might have to wait a while to see again, even in this T20 age. As Lahore’s Bilawal Bhatti came in to bowl, Billings looked set to play a scoop over fine leg. Wisely enough, Bilawal went wide outside off stump. Billings followed, holding his bat straight out in front of his chest. It was miles away when he tried to play the long-awaited scoop. The ball instead hit his helmet, and went to third man for four leg-byes. Who would be a bowler, really?Where they stand
Islamabad and Lahore now both have one win and one loss from their games, and two points each. Four of the five sides now sit on that number, with Karachi yet to register a win.

North Zone put themselves six points ahead of second-placed South Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League points table after their innings-and-85-run win over Central Zone in Sylhet.Central Zone were bowled out for 181 in their first innings, as left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam extended his good form with 5 for 45, his second five-for of the tournament so far. Farhad Reza took 3 for 41. Saif Hassan’s 63 was the lone half-century in Central Zone’s innings.Then Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Dhiman Ghosh struck centuries as North Zone piled up 537 in reply, taking a 356-run lead.Naeem top-scored with 142 off 285 balls that included 20 boundaries and a six. He added 197 runs for the fifth wicket with Shanto, who made 123 off 142 balls, including 18 fours. Naeem then added 126 runs for the seventh wicket with Dhiman, who struck 14 fours in his 113. Dhiman was also part of a 60-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Alauddin Babu, who chipped in with a 67-ball 54. Naeem’s 142 was his third successive hundred, and fourth overall, in the tournament, and took his run tally in the series to 567.Saif replied with a second fifty in the game, but Central Zone couldn’t wipe out their deficit and were bowled out 271 in 76 overs. Saif’s 98-ball 70 included eight fours and two sixes. Tanbir Hayder also struck 51.Babu took four wickets while Sunzamul took three to take his match haul to 8 for 159.East Zone lifted themselves up from the last place on the table after a draw against South Zone at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. They finished the game with three points, while South Zone took only one point.Batting first, South Zone were bowled out for 296 after Mohammad Saifuddin and Saqlain Sajib took three wickets each. Imrul Kayes, who is attempting to prove his fitness for a spot in the second Test squad in Colombo, struck 136 off 210 balls that had 18 fours and two sixes. Anamul Haque made 58 but the rest of the South Zone batsmen crumbled.East Zone replied well, declaring on 523 for 7, which gave them a lead of 227 runs. Afif Hossain made 137 off 238 balls with the help of 17 fours. Tasamul Haque missed out on a century by two runs, while Alok Kapali (66), Mohammad Saifuddin (50 not out) and Rahatul Ferdous (60 not out) also struck fifties.On the final day, South Zone moved to 198 for 5 in 96 overs, with nearly all their batsmen getting starts.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:27

Macpherson: Scorchers seem unstoppable now

An inspired opening spell of pace bowling from Mitchell Johnson set up a blistering victory for Perth Scorchers, booking them a home final at the WACA. Melbourne Stars were the victims, losing both their openers in Johnson’s first over, and they never really recovered, scrambling their way to 136 for 8, but ultimately losing by seven wickets with 19 balls to spare.Just as he did in the Scorchers’ last league game against Hobart Hurricanes, Johnson’s opening burst, which – on a low pitch – read 4-2-3-3, gutted the opposition, and from thereon his team-mates put on a typically clinical display. Johnson’s bowling colleagues remained relentless, while the chase was calm and calculated, with Shaun Marsh making his second successive half-century.In their fifth final (which will take place straight after their women’s team contest their first final), Scorchers have a shot at a third title. They will play Brisbane Heat or Sydney Sixers, who meet at the Gabba tomorrow. For the Stars, a fairly sorry season has ended with the return of their semi-final curse; five times in six years, they have fallen at the penultimate hurdle. Again, they have been hurt badly by their national team-heavy list.Mitch’s 3 for 3 off four
What a way to start a T20. What a way to start any game of cricket! Johnson began with a loosener at Rob Quiney’s hip. Quiney didn’t need to bite, but he did, guiding straight to the man at fine leg, one of just three posted on the leg side, for his second golden duck in three innings. Luke Wright had crossed, but after leaving, then defending, he slashed to Ashton Turner at close-in gully. Little Seb Gotch left the last ball of the over. A double-wicket maiden to begin.Five runs came off Johnson’s next over, but none off the bat. Another maiden.The opening ball of Johnson’s third over struck the most bitter blow for the Stars, with Kevin Pietersen – who had complained about the lack of pace in the pitch – flicking straight to midwicket. Marcus Stoinis blocked, left, swayed, then missed. The last ball was pushed into the leg side for one.Johnson was not done yet. Steaming in at 144kph, and with Stoinis having holed out off Jhye Richardson, Gotch and David Hussey took a single each. Johnson ended his four-over spell with 3 for 3, and a standing ovation from the WACA crowd. The Stars were 28 for 4 after seven overs. It was a truly magnificent spell.Seb Gotch hit 48 off 47 balls to resist Perth Scorchers•Cricket Australia

The recovery
Things got better for the Stars, but not hugely. Gotch and Hussey put on 52, targeting the spinners and the small boundaries. But when Hussey was caught trying to kick on, the wickets would not stop. Evan Gulbis and Ben Hilfenhaus briefly looked dangerous, but were both caught in the deep, while Gotch’s impish, enterprising innings was ended by a fine diving catch from Ashton Agar at mid-off. The tail swung and ran hard to drag them to 136, in the face of some very fine death bowling from Tim Bresnan. The Stars had done rather well to not be bowled out.Waltzing to a home final
The Stars had a bowling attack – full of canny seamers – nicely suited to the challenge posed by the pitch, but the target was always too slim. Michael Klinger went early, but Sam Whiteman came out swinging and Marsh looked in sublime touch. Whiteman looked to have edged behind on 13, but was not given, instead falling caught in the deep for 31. Adam Voges picked out midwicket, but out came Ian Bell to finish the job alongside Marsh with a delightful cameo. Indeed, a vintage cover drive to end it.Final pitch concerns?
Concerns over a pitch four days out might seem premature, but this is the slow track on which the final will be played, and by then it will have 20 more overs in it from the WBBL final, too. BBL could not farewell the WACA (Scorchers will play at the new Perth Stadium from next season) in a more appropriate fashion than a double Scorchers title; it would be even sweeter if it took place on a classic, ferocious WACA track.

A confrontation between James Anderson and R Ashwin provided a “sour end” to the fourth Test in Mumbai, according to Alastair Cook.Anderson, England’s last batsman, received quite the welcome party when he walked out to bat in the dying moments of the match. Ashwin, in particular, appeared to have taken exception to his comments on the fourth evening that seemed, at best, grudgingly respectful of Virat Kohli’s dominance, and accompanied him for much of his walk to the middle. While it is unclear exactly what was said, it seems safe to assume Ashwin was not offering his full support. Play was delayed briefly before Kohli and umpire Marais Erasmus stepped in to ensure order was restored.The England camp felt Anderson’s comments were, in Cook’s words, “blown out of proportion”. But while Cook accepted Ashwin and his team-mates were “sticking up for their captain” he still described the episode as unnecessary and disappointing.”It was a bit of a sour end really,” Cook said. “It was a disappointing end in terms of how well the spirit between both sides has been played.”It was clearly in reference to what Jimmy said yesterday which has kind of been blown out of all proportions, which it can do here. He was just stating a fact which if you asked Virat is probably quite true. But yes, it was obviously just sticking up for their captain which I thought was slightly unnecessary.”Kohli was more relaxed about the incident and confirmed that he had made his peace with Anderson and agreed to “move on”.”For the first time I was trying to calm things down in the middle at a time when [Anderson] is involved,” he said. “Ashwin wasn’t pleased with what he said in the press, but I didn’t even know about it. So I didn’t know what to make of it. I was laughing about it.”Ashwin wasn’t too impressed and he let him know, not using any bad words honestly. I think he told him he was pretty disappointed with what he said and it is important to accept defeat as it is. Things like that. Just general, you know how Ashwin is, he is to the point, he can really strike you well and he doesn’t need to say bad words. Later on I told James these things happen and let’s move on.”While Kohli said he was “not going to sit here and comment about someone else’s faults” he had already expressed his views. Having suggested England’s batsmen lacked “intent” as they battled to save the Test in Visakhapatnam, he told Star Sports after this match that England had played too expansively as they were “not so confident of their defence”.He may well have a point. Just as Anderson may have had a point about Kohli’s record in England and Parthiv Patel may have had a point about the limitations of England’s spinners and the early struggles of Jos Buttler in the first innings of this game. The way in which these views are expressed, which sometimes seems intended to goad the opposition, is the issue.But there is history between these teams. India felt England’s behaviour towards them was poor on the tour of 2014 – in particular, the alleged incident between Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja was never satisfactorily resolved from an Indian perspective – and England can feel their proud record against India crumbling by the moment.Either way, it all seems unnecessary. India have proved themselves the better side. No amount of comment will change the scoreline.

ScorecardChris Tremain picked up three wickets in his first five overs•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

It took Victoria less than a day to claim a first-innings lead in their Sheffield Shield game against Queensland at the MCG, where Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb backed up the fine work of their bowlers. The Bulls won the toss and chose to bat but before tea they had been skittled for 137, as first Chris Tremain and Scott Boland, and later Jon Holland, caused problems.Boland bowled axed Test opener Joe Burns for 4 and Tremain picked up three wickets in his first five overs to leave Queensland at 4 for 11. But the young pair of Sam Heazlett and Jack Wildermuth, both inclusions for this match having missed the first game of the season, built a 62-run stand that provided some sort of fightback.The partnership ended when Wildermuth was stumped off Holland for 20, and Heazlett followed soon afterwards for 51. Holland effectively ran through the tail to finish with 4 for 32, while Tremain ended up with 3 for 26.Victoria suffered their own top-order dramas when Travis Dean and Marcus Stoinis fell early to leave the total at 2 for 8, but Harris continued his strong form in his first appearances for Victoria and made 75. Handscomb managed 60, and their 130-run stand was enough to give Victoria the lead. By stumps, the Bushrangers were 5 for 153, with Glenn Maxwell on 6 and Cameron White on 1.