Briefly cricket

Critical comments about the Bangladesh team from former England batsman Geoff Boycott helped spur Tamim Iqbal to a dazzling 103 from 100 balls on the fourth day of the first Test at Lords on Sunday.

Boycs remark fires up Tamim

London:Critical comments about the Bangladesh team from former England batsman Geoff Boycott helped spur Tamim Iqbal to a dazzling 103 from 100 balls on the fourth day of the first Test at Lords on Sunday. I was watching television last night when I saw him commenting that Bangladesh should not play Test cricket, Iqbal said. It made me determined to do something to show him in the field. Iqbal set a Bangladesh record for the first-wicket partnership of 185 with Imrul Kayes 75 after his team had been asked to follow on. Junaid Siddique and Jahurul Islam 46 consolidated with a composed third-wicket partnership of exactly 100,which enabled the visitors to reach 328 for five at the close,a lead of 105 with a days play remaining.

Brief scores: England 1st innings 505 A Strauss 83,J Trott 226; Shahadat 5/98 versus Bangladesh 1st innings overnight 237-7 T Iqbal run out 55, I Kayes 43,J Siddique 58; Anderson 4/78,Finn 4/100 and 2nd innings T Iqbal 103,I Kayes 75,J Siddique n.o; Finn 2/66

West Indies post 303

Dominica: West Indies,searching for their first victory of the five-match series against South Africa,scored 303 in Sundays fourth game in Dominica. Dale Richards,who made 59,along with captain Chris Gayle 29 gave the hosts a good start with a 64 run partnership. Richards also teamed up with Shivnarine Chanderpaul,who top-scored with 66,in an 51-run second-wicket stand. Dwayne Bravo then joined Chanderpaul and the two put on 55 for the third wicket. Charl Langeveldt with 2 for 59 and Lonwabo Tsotsobe 2 for 48 were the most successful bowlers.

Brief scores: West Indies 303 for six Dale Richards 59,S Chanderpaul 55; C Langeveldt 2/59,L Tsotsobe 2/48

Race for sponsorship

Mumbai: Sahara India and Bharti Airtel are locked in a two-way race to bag the sponsorship rights for the Indian cricket team to be announced by the BCCI here on Monday. Only these two firms are left in the fray,although four others including Videocon had also purchased the form. Sahara India and Airtel submitted the security deposit of Rs 50 crore along with the form at the end of deadline while the other firms excused themselves from the race due to steep base price of Rs 2.5 crore per match.