Report
Rain in Hamilton stymies New Zealand
New Zealand cricket fans have prayed for rain several times over the summer without effect, but when they most needed fine weather, it rained
Lynn McConnell
28-Mar-2001
New Zealand cricket fans have prayed for rain several times over the summer without effect, but when they most needed fine weather, it rained.
No play was possible on the second day of the final National Bank series Test match today at Hamilton's WestpacTrust Park.
What started out as light drizzle just before play started continued to get heavier until by 1.30pm the umpires, Steve Dunne (New Zealand) and Daryl Harper (Australia) decided there was no chance of play today and so called the day off.
Having just made their decision they were justified when a downpour lashed the ground forming large pools in the outfield that would have killed any chance later in the day.
Full postMark Waugh ton scripts Aussie victory
The fact that anything can happen at any time is both the greatness and drawback of limited overs cricket
Anand Vasu
28-Mar-2001
The fact that anything can happen at any time is both the greatness and drawback of limited overs cricket. There is little weightage for form, for confidence or for the past. What happens on the day is the only thing that decides the outcome. The second limited overs international between India and Australia played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Pune on Wednesday saw the visitors completely outplay India and coast to an eight wicket victory.
The ever so elegant Mark Waugh, who signaled his return to form with two half centuries in the final Test at Chennai made an impeccable unbeaten 133, taking Australia to a comfortable victory. Notching up his 18th one-day century, Mark Waugh is now behind only Saeed Anwar (19) and Sachin Tendulkar (26) in the all time list of century makers. There are few people as unfussy and elegant when in form as Mark Waugh. Tendulkar gives the ball a hard thump, Brian Lara shuffles a lot in his crease but Mark Waugh is simple, precise and a treat to
watch. Even the New South Welshman's detractors would have to grant that. Scoring 133 of the finest runs, Mark Waugh struck the ball to the fence 15 times and cleared the ropes once.
But it was not all Mark Waugh. Matthew Hayden, still hungry for runs, continued to milk India at the top of the order. Despite coming out to the crease with a target of 249, Hayden was calm as ever and went about his task of gathering runs with consummate ease. In the company of Mark Waugh, Hayden made 57 (116 mins, 81 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and put on 143 for the opening wicket. Despite a mix up and run out of Darren Lehmann just 20 runs later, Australia made it home with almost five overs to spare. Michael Bevan, not out on 33 was at the crease when the winning runs were scored.
Earlier in the day, when Sourav Ganguly won the toss he had no doubt in his mind that batting first was the right thing to do. Even the fact that the wicket appeared to be dry and looked like it had spots on it did not deter the Indian skipper. Hemang Badani, batting at number five, relished the captain's decision. Helping himself to his maiden one-day international century, Badani scored at better than run a ball and held the Indian innings together.
Full postFine all round effort from Lancashire after Day 2 at Belville
A fine all round effort from the spinners and a century opening partnership put Lancashire in control at the end of the second day of play versus Boland Academy at Bellville
John Dawson
28-Mar-2001
A fine all round effort from the spinners and a century opening partnership put Lancashire in control at the end of the second day of play versus Boland Academy at Bellville.
Chris Schofield bowling for the first time on tour struck twice in an over just before lunch to remove danger man Vuuren and Jephta second ball to tilt the balance of play to Lancashire. After lunch Keedy bowling for the first time since his back injury, took two wickets and Gary Yates polished off the tail with figures off three for 15, reducing Boland to 201 all out, a deficit of 136.
With one session of play remaining in the day captain John Crawley promoted himself to open with Mark Chilton. The two put on 151 runs before Crawley was stumped with the last ball of the day for a brilliant 101. Mark Chilton who desperately seeking runs having not scored double figures all tour was left unbeaten on 49.
Full postSaving the best till last New Zealand hope
In a summer of so much frustration for New Zealand cricket, days like today do a lot to erase the bad memories
Lynn McConnell
27-Mar-2001
In a summer of so much frustration for New Zealand cricket, days like today do a lot to erase the bad memories.
Pakistan all out for 104 in 26.5 madcap overs, New Zealand 160/0 at stumps called 16 overs short of the quota due to bad light.
Unbelievable.
Everything went right for New Zealand, even captain Stephen Fleming won the toss.
Full postPakistan in a perilous situation after 1st innings collapse
Pakistan's Cricket team, fully infused with fresh blood in the absence of some old stalwarts, collapsed dramatically for a petty score of 104 runs
Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim
27-Mar-2001
Pakistan's Cricket team, fully infused with fresh blood in the absence of some old stalwarts, collapsed dramatically for a petty score of 104 runs. The disaster paved a safe passage for the Black Caps' opening pair of Mathew Bell (89*) and Mark Richardson (64*) to surpass the total, providing New Zealand with the 1st wicket partnership record of 160 runs. It was also the second time in the history of New Zealand cricket that the two batsmen had passed the opponents' score without the loss of a wicket. This was the situation after the close of play on the 1st day of the 3rd and final Test of the National Bank Series between Pakistan and New Zealand at the WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton.
Pakistan took the field with Inzamam-ul-Haq getting his first break as captain of a Test XI in the absence of skipper Moin Khan joining the injured list and likely to remain so for the next 6 weeks. After winning the toss the New Zealand skipper very wisely asked Pakistan to bat on a greenish pitch designed to help the pace bowlers at the start. Daryl Tuffey (4 for 39) and Chris Martin (4 for 52) struck like lightening making short work of Pakistan's batting.
Martin commenced the demolition work by claiming the first 4 wickets in a span of 14 balls without conceding a run. Pakistan thus lost 4 of the top order batsmen in the first 10 overs. With the foundation badly shaken, the batting continued to collapse except for a 6th wicket consolation partnership of 50 runs between Younis Khan (36) and Humayun Farhat (28). The 3rd batsman to reach double figures was Imran Farhat who scored a valuable 24 in the opening stand of 28 runs. Among other players, five of them acquired ducks while two succeeded in using their bats for scoring 5 runs each. A miserable batting performance by any standards.
Not taking anything away from the New Zealand pacers, the disaster was almost of Pakistan's own making. The lack of application and the act of resorting to playing rash and risky shots instead of staying at the crease were major reasons of collapse. It may be all right to take pride in being a bunch of stroke makers but playing test cricket in the style of a one-day international was something for which there is no excuse or pardon. It was hazardous batting right through except for Younis Khan who played with a straight bat.
Full postSri Lanka defeat England by record margin to take series 3-0
A flamboyant century by Romesh Kaluwitharana sentenced England to a crushing 10-wicket loss in the third and final one-day international in Colombo
Charlie Austin
27-Mar-2001
A flamboyant century by Romesh Kaluwitharana sentenced England to a crushing 10-wicket loss in the third and final one-day international in Colombo.
Graham Thorpe admitted that England had been "completely outplayed" by Sri Lanka in the one-day series. It is the first time in their history of 325 one-day internationals that England have lost by such a margin.
Set a modest target of 166 by England, Kaluwitharana (102*) and Atapattu (53*) wasted no time in taking the attack to the English bowlers, and wrapped up the 3-0 series whitewash in just the 34th over.
Earlier, England had struggled to set a reasonable total in the third and final one-day international in Sri Lanka.
Full postKaluwitharana leads Sri Lanka to crushing victory over England
England's foot weary cricketers lost the final One-Day International of a three-match series by ten-wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club today
Charlie Austin
27-Mar-2001
England's foot weary cricketers lost the final One-Day International of a three-match series by ten-wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club today. Whilst they will be disappointed to have been so thoroughly outplayed by a slick Sri Lankan side during the past week, they will at least rest content in the knowledge that their defeat takes little away from a largely successful winter's work.
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That's the end of the Series Photo CricInfo |
Sri Lanka know that they have merely taken the crumbs from the table. They wanted the Test series most, but will take pride nonetheless in the fact that they now resemble a well-oiled machine in one-day cricket with their free flowing batsmen, crafty bowlers, and cat-like fielders.
Duncan Fletcher admitted on Monday that England desperately need to pay greater attention to their one-day cricket and plan their preparations more carefully in the future. Their flimsy performance today highlighted the urgency of that situation. This winter they have lost six out of the eight ODI played and they recorded the three lowest totals against Sri Lanka in their 23-match history. Worse still, today was the first time that England have lost by ten-wickets in their 325 game history.
Full postKaluwitharana sentences England to 3-0 defeat
England's foot weary cricketers lost the final One-Day International of a three-match series by ten-wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club today
Charlie Austin
27-Mar-2001
England's foot weary cricketers lost the final One-Day International of a three-match series by ten-wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club today. Whilst they will be disappointed to have been outplayed by a slick Sri Lankan side during the past week, they will at least rest content in the knowledge that their defeat takes little away from a largely successful winter's work.
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Time to come home Photo CricInfo |
Sri Lanka know that they have merely taken the crumbs from the table. They wanted the Test series most, but will take pride nonetheless in the fact that they now resemble a well-oiled machine in one-day cricket with their free flowing batsmen, crafty bowlers, and cat-like fielders.
Duncan Fletcher admitted on Monday that England need to pay greater attention to their one-day cricket and plan their preparations more carefully in the future. Their performance today highlighted the urgency of that situation. This winter they have lost six out of the eight ODI played and they recorded the three lowest totals against Sri Lanka in their 23-match history. Worse still, today was the first time that England have lost by ten-wickets in their 325 game history.
Full postLaw defies averages to lead Bulls to glory again
What a match
John Polack
27-Mar-2001
What a match. What a season. What a climax.
At the end of what might come to be remembered as one of the all-time great matches in Australian first-class history, Queensland has prevailed here at the 'Gabba
ground in Brisbane to win a thrilling Pura Cup Final against Victoria by a margin of four wickets.
But the Bulls didn't grasp a fourth domestic first-class title - one which gave them back-to-back victories for the first time in their history - without weathering close to
three hours of extraordinary drama on the final day of this memorable 2000-01 summer.
Controversy hit the Final in the fifth over of the last day when Queensland captain Stuart Law (47*) was awarded the benefit of the doubt - courtesy of a series of
inconclusive television replays - after it had appeared that he had been wonderfully caught by a diving Michael Klinger at third slip from the very first ball that he faced.
Full postSouth Africa draw with Board XI
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 26 - To the surprise of absolutely nobody, South Africa drew their three-day warm-up match against a West Indies Cricket Board XI at the Kensington Oval on Monday
Marcus Prior - MWP
26-Mar-2001
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 26 - To the surprise of absolutely nobody, South Africa drew their three-day warm-up match against a West Indies Cricket Board XI at the Kensington Oval on Monday. By the time hands were shaken, the Board XI had reached 84 for one, chasing an unlikely victory target of 228 to win from just 38 overs.
The only disappointment for the South Africans will be that they did not
reinforce their overall superiority by troubling the Board XI more obviously
in their second innings. Openers Daren Ganga (33 not out) and Leon Garrick
(26) both looked untroubled as they accumulated comfortably.
Garrick fell as the game dwindled to the kind of inconclusive result
only cricket can produce after three hard days of competition, the Jamaican
failing to time a pull off Andre Nel to see the ball loop up towards Gary
Kirsten at square-leg, who took a good catch as he dived forwards.
Despite the flat conclusion to the game, it was a very good workout for
the South Africans and a valuable opportunity for the non-test players to
stretch their limbs on a long tour during which they will get little playing
time.
Full post