India`s mastery overshadowed by rowdy scenes

The first under-15 world tournament reached a wild climax at Lord`s yesterday. Over-excited elements in a partisan crowd of 8,000 supporting the finalists, India and Pakistan, had been threatening unruliness throughout what was, until the closing stages, a happy occasion.

As India, led by a wonderfully mature innings of 82 not out by their captain, Retinder Sodhi, moved inexorably towards a four- wicket victory, reached eventually with 14 balls to spare, hordes of spectators twice invaded the pitch, stealing the stumps.

Inadequate numbers of stewards and police struggled to keep order and on the second occasion the Indian batsmen left the field, a spectator was hit on the head and lay in- jured on the outfield for several minutes and a skin-head Pakis- tan supporter was led away by police after having a stump wrested away. He was an adult, but most of the invaders were young: more over- enthusiastic than malevolent.

There was further trouble after the game when pol- ice led away more trouble-makers and a spokesman said four spec- tators had been arrested. It was clear that both the size and fervour of the crowd had taken the authorities by surprise. There was booing as well as cheering at the prize-giving.

It was a quite inappropriate end to a lively match and a most successful tournament. Attracting 10 countries, run like clock- work until the final by the English Schools` Cricket Associa- tion, sponsored by Lombard with a #50,000 gift from the the Lord`s Taverners, and televised from the semi- finals on by Sky, the matches proved that all that separates 14 and 15- year-old would-be international players from the real thing is age, strength and experience.

There was no difference in respect of raw talent, nor, alas, of theatrical histrionics, fervent appealing and open, but not malicious, dissent. No difference, even, in the advertising logos on the Indian shirts.

Sodhi, a tall and already very accomplished right- handed opener, is clearly destined for stardom.

India and Pakistan may not necessarily have been the best sides in the tournament, but assuredly they were the most com- mitted and best organised. Both countries were backed by their governments and had been planning for this event for 18 months.

Both finalists were unbeaten, so there was no ques- tioning their right to be at Lord`s. What is more, some 8,000 of their England-domiciled supporters turned up to watch, making a din worthy of 80,000. They lent atmosphere to the day and those who appreciated the finer points saw much stylish stroke-play and some mature bowling, especially from the 13-year-old left-arm spinner from Jalandhar, Rajiv Jolly, possibly the youngest to play at Lord`s since Sir Colin Cowdrey in 1946. For Pakistan, Shazad Nazir already looks a fast bowler of immense promise.

Pakistan were put into bat by the Indians on a heavy morning and on an ideal pitch were restricted to four an over despite a fine innings by the opener, Hasan Raja, from Karachi, whose 80 came from 108 balls.

The Indians were hustled into a bad start by ag- gressive new-ball bowling, but from 19 for two in the eighth over, their semi-final heroes, Retinder Sodhi and Pardeep Chawla, drove them, literally, into a position of control. Sodhi, a tall and al- ready very accomplished right-handed opener, is clearly des- tined for stardom.

Keeping wicket Chawla spent too much time on the ground, but his batting was wristy and neat. He and Sodhi put on 86 for the third wicket, before Chawla drove a leg-break to mid-off. His deceiver was Imran Qadir, son of Abdul and, as Burke said of Pitt the Younger, "not so much a chip off the old block as the old block itself". But nothing would stop Sodhi, not leg- breaks, googlies or the Lord`s version yester- day of a sub- continental riot.

Thank goodness, order was soon restored. Ken Lake, ESCA`s hard- working secretary, delighted with the camara- derie among all the teams (there was a plate competition, won by Sri Lanka) hopes there may be another tournament for this age group in four years` time. The dangers are that a schoolboy competition might become a vehicle for xenophobes and that this tournament`s success will lead to commercial exploitation inap- propriate to amateur sport.