Report
Bushrangers overpower disappointing Tasmania
Another dismal Tasmanian batting performance has handed Victoria a comfortable outright success in the Pura Cup match between the teams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today
www.baggygreen.com.au
17-Dec-2000
Another dismal Tasmanian batting performance has handed Victoria a comfortable outright success in the Pura Cup match between the teams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today. The Bushrangers ended with a 179 run win after the visitors collapsed - again - on their way to a measly second innings total of 173.
The Tasmanians had resumed at 3/54 this morning as it chased the unlikely target of 353 for victory. But, after a debilitating batting collapse on Friday, a Tasmanian triumph never shaped as a likely outcome. And, when Paul Reiffel (3/32) seized the wickets of specialist batsmen Andrew Dykes (17) and Scott Mason (9) early in the day, only one result looked vaguely likely.
Youngsters Scott Kremerskothen (41) and Sean Clingeleffer (38) underlined their potential, bravely defying the inevitable with a sixty-seven run stand for the seventh wicket before the former fell to an lbw decision shortly after lunch. From there, it was a quick slide to defeat for the Tigers. The loss of Kremerskothen helped prompt a slide which saw the last four wickets fall for the addition of just nineteen runs.
After mopping up the tail, Ian Harvey (3/17) garnered the best figures among an even Victorian attack. But it was man of the match Reiffel who was the pick of the bowlers throughout. In his two spells with the new ball in this match, the Victorian captain ripped the heart out of the Tasmanian batting line-up and his opponents never recovered. It was fitting, too, that he should have used this match to surpass Alan Connolly and set a new record for the number of wickets taken by a Victorian bowler in the history of Sheffield Shield-Pura Cup competition.
Full postCracking Marshall ton decisive in downing Canterbury
James Marshall's hard-hit maiden Shell Cup century proved to be a match-winner for Northern Districts, as Canterbury's run chase came up 21 runs short in an entertaining third-round clash
Steve Deane
17-Dec-2000
James Marshall's hard-hit maiden Shell Cup century proved to be a
match-winner for Northern Districts, as Canterbury's run chase came up 21
runs short in an entertaining third-round clash.
Marshall's outstanding innings included six fours and four sixes. His second
50 came off only 28 balls as Northern plundered 40 runs from its final five
overs to set Canterbury an imposing target of 250.
When Geoff Allott bowled Robbie Hart with only four deliveries left in the
ND innings it looked as if Marshall's chance of reaching three figures had
gone. The young right-hander found himself stranded at the non-striker's end
on 95. But Alex Tait pushed his first ball into the off-side for a single,
leaving Marshall three balls from which to score five runs to achieve the
milestone.
He smashed the next delivery from Allott wide of mid-on and the ball
comfortably beat Darren Reekers to the fence.
Full postCentral's win furthers Wellington's mixed domestic fortunes
Wellington approached Christmas brightly situated at the top of one tree but left frayed and neglected at the foot of another after their 48-run Shell Cup loss to Central Districts at the Basin Reserve today
Steve McMorran
17-Dec-2000
Wellington approached Christmas brightly situated at the top of one tree but left frayed and neglected at the foot of another after their 48-run Shell Cup loss to Central Districts at the Basin Reserve today.
Their innings victory over Central in the Trophy match which ended yesterday left them poised, after three rounds, at the summit of that competition but their third successive loss in Cup games placed them, despondently, at the bottom of the one-day championship.
Wellington's rich batting lineup lost some of its usual glitter when, even with the decorative presence of Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, it was all out for 218 in 46.4 overs in reply to Central's imposing 266-8.
It seemed hard to credit today, accounting for all festive surprises, that a batting order such as Wellington's, which included three one-day internationals - among them Roger Twose, the second-best one-day batsman in the world - failed so comprehensively.
Full postBears upset the Titans apple cart
The Border Bears made light work of a promising Northerns Titans top order that flattered to deceive as they were beaten by four wickets in their Standard Bank Cup match at Supersport Park on Sunday
Michael Vlismas
17-Dec-2000
The Border Bears made light work of a promising Northerns Titans top order that flattered to deceive as they were beaten by four wickets in their Standard Bank Cup match at Supersport Park on Sunday.
The toss was won by the home team, who elected to bat first considering that they were buoyed by a few Titans stalwarts.
Coach Dave Nosworthy had selected a batting line-up which he believed gave him enviable depth throughout the order.
On the basis of his team's form in the four-day game there were few who were willing to challenge his optimism.
Full postSouth Zone edge past holders North to make final
It was expected to be a needle contest
Partab Ramchand
17-Dec-2000
It was expected to be a needle contest. And it lived up to
expectations. Ultimately South Zone got the better of holders
North Zone in the semifinal of the Deodhar Trophy tournament
by three wickets with nine deliveries to spare at Green Park
in Kanpur on Sunday. They now await the winner of the other
semifinal to be played between Central Zone and West Zone on
Monday.
South Zone's confidence must have been boosted by their seven
wicket victory over East Zone in the quarterfinal on Friday.
But then North Zone were always going to be tougher opponents.
However, displaying fighting spirit and all round skill, South
Zone emerged triumphant to make the final which will be played
in Lucknow on December 21.
North Zone captain Vikram Rathour won the toss and elected to
bat. He and Indian wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya gave the team a
good start by putting on 39 runs off eight overs before
Rathour was caught by Venkatpathy Raju off Ganesh. Off the
next delivery, Ganesh bowled Yuvraj Singh and North Zone were
suddenly reduced to 39 for two.
Dahiya and wicketkeeper Pankaj Dharmani initiated a recovery
process by adding 66 runs off 13.4 overs for the third wicket.
Dharmani was then bowled by Raju for 26. North Zone slipped
further when Virender Shewag was bowled by Robin Singh for
two. Dahiya however kept one end going and he and Mongia added
38 runs for the fifth wicket off ten overs.
Full postPunjab batting strength ensures lead in drawn game
The Punjab-Delhi Under-22 encounter at the Palam Ground in New Delhi saw visitors Punjab take home 5 points after the match was drawn today, on the third and final day
Anand Vasu
17-Dec-2000
The Punjab-Delhi Under-22 encounter at the Palam Ground in New Delhi saw
visitors Punjab take home 5 points after the match was drawn today, on the third
and final day. Despite letting Delhi get 336 in their first essay, Punjab batted
out the rest of the match to make 591/8. Having let Punjab get such a huge lead,
Delhi had to be content with 3 points.
On winning the toss on Friday, Delhi skipper S Rauf elected to bat first.
Stumper Varun Kumar did his skipper proud by slamming 147 (295 balls, 22 fours)
at the top of the order. However, Varun Kumar had very little support from his
teammates. Only S Vaid with 58 managed to stick around at the crease for a
while, but that too was not enough. After 123.2 overs of batting, Delhi could
manage only 336.
Punjab with their strong batting line up brushed aside the Delhi score with
ease. Opting not to make a match of it, Punjab batted out the remaining time to
reach 591/8 when the match ended. For Punjab all batsmen were among the runs,
but Under-19 star Ravneet Ricky was by far the best, with 146 (253 balls, 23
fours). Apart from Ricky, Amit Behl (85), Ankur Kakkar (98) and Harikrishnan
Kali (90) were among the runs. As it turned out, Punjab were happy with the 5
points they got from securing the first innings lead and the match ended in the
tamest of draws.
Full postWarriors rise up Pura Cup table
The Western Warriors jumped from the bottom of the Pura Cup standings after making short work of a meagre run chase on day three of their match with New South Wales at the WACA Ground today
Scott Holdaway
17-Dec-2000
The Western Warriors jumped from the bottom of the Pura Cup standings after making short work of a meagre run chase on day three of their match with New South Wales at the WACA Ground today.
Set just seventy-two runs to win after they dismissed the Blues for 130 in their second innings late yesterday, the Warriors grabbed an outright victory by reaching the target in the sixteenth over, with nine wickets to spare. The victory gives the Warriors ten points from five matches, and leaves them just four points adrift of second place.
Warriors captain Tom Moody, named man of the match after taking five wickets late yesterday to decimate the Blues, said the result meant a positive feeling again surrounded the side.
"We've gone awfully close in our last three four-day games, without delivering the final blow," Moody said.
Full postWeather can't prevent comprehensive Wellington victory
With a final, deprecating bow to the weather gods who made their task so difficult, Wellington completed outright victory over Central Districts by an innings and 69 runs in their Shell Trophy match at the Basin Reserve today
Steve McMorran
16-Dec-2000
With a final, deprecating bow to the weather gods who made their task so difficult, Wellington completed outright victory over Central Districts by an innings and 69 runs in their Shell Trophy match at the Basin Reserve today.
As if to add a last and sardonic irony to all that had occured over the past three days, the clouds parted this afternoon and a shy, almost embarrassed sun appeared to illuminate the last act of the match, the denouement the weather had so long delayed.
Only 42.5 overs had been bowled on the game's second day, 33.1 on the third and there were only 40 minutes of play before lunch today as the weather toyed with the emotions of the Wellington players and, particularly, the nerves of their highly-strung coach Vaughn Johnson.
First the intercession of the weather, then an act of bitter defiance from Mark Douglas and Ben Smith, a 128-run partnership in 144 minutes for Central's third wicket, made Wellington fret for their second haul of outright points in three Trophy rounds.
Full postCanterbury middle order deny Northern record bid
In a game that included more shocking collapses than the Kobe earthquake, and more fighting comebacks than George Foreman, Canterbury came away with first innings points
Steve Deane
16-Dec-2000
In a game that included more shocking collapses than the Kobe earthquake,
and more fighting comebacks than George Foreman, Canterbury came away with
first innings points.
Beginning the day on 22/3, Canterbury looked to be in for a tough fight to
force a draw. But Chris Harris batted like a millionaire throughout the
first hour, hitting seven fours as he guided Canterbury out of the custard.
The former Mr New Zealand candidate was severe on a slightly wayward ND
attack, hooking and pulling the quick bowlers and lofting the spinners down
the ground.
Night-watchman Carl Anderson proved a useful foil and looked competent as he
held up an end through to the lunch break. With Northern unable to break
through in the morning session, and Canterbury increasing its lead to 130,
any prospect of an outright result had gone by lunch.
Full postWest Indies revival continues in evenly poised Test
Three late wickets have taken some of the shine off Australia's bright beginning to the run chase at stumps on day two of the Third Test against West Indies at the Adelaide Oval
Nabila Ahmed
16-Dec-2000
Three late wickets have taken some of the shine off Australia's bright beginning to the run chase at stumps on day two of the Third Test against West Indies at the
Adelaide Oval.
After bringing an end to the 156-run opening stand between Matthew Hayden (58) and Michael Slater (83) in the thirty-eighth over, the tourists went on to claim
two more batsmen to leave the game evenly poised.
At stumps, Australia is 3/180, with Mark Waugh (10*) and nightwatchman Jason Gillespie (2*) at the crease. The team needs another 211 runs to reach the West
Indian first innings total of 391.
After finishing their innings early in the second session, the West Indies watched helplessly as Slater and Hayden piled on the runs. The two scored at well in excess
of four runs per over, belting the attack to all parts of the ground.
Full postMost Read
Writers