A relaxed Roger Binny saw his boys coast to victory in the India Under-15 versus Tamil Nadu Under-16 practice match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday

Anand Vasu

26-Jun-2000

A relaxed Roger Binny saw his boys coast to victory in the India Under-15 versus Tamil Nadu Under-16 practice match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. Beside him was an equally at ease Professor Ratnakar Shetty. The executive joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association is with the juniors in the capacity of manager. Having played the same role with the Indian senior team in 1997 when they toured Sri Lanka, Shetty was more than accustomed with the tasks at hand.

"This is the right time to be with these boys. At this age, they are keen to play the game and are trying hard to make their careers." He was also very happy with the team and was hopeful about their chances in Malaysia. "We'll play hard and have it in us to win. I hope the boys do well and return with the trophy."

When the Indian captain Subhash Dixit won the toss and elected to field on a hot Chennai morning, his bowlers responded in fine style. Leading from the front, the captain ended with the impeccable figures of 8-2-13-4. He was well supported by off spinner Palash Jyoti Das. The Assamese lad ended with 3/23. In all, the Tamil Nadu side could muster only 175 as they were all out three overs short of their allotted 45 overs.

Vijay Sarthy (37) and Vishal Kudavala (46) played the only knocks worthy of mention. Aditya Srikkanth, watched with interest because of his famous father, did not make an impact in his innings of 18. Panau Raju, who is a member of the squad that will leave for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-15 tournament later today strengthened the Tamil Nadu ranks by playing for them.

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Somerset v Zimbabweans

In a pleasant match, played from Zimbabwe's viewpoint against the backdrop of the country's crucial elections, the touring team beat Somerset at Taunton by 21 runs with eight balls to spare

John Ward

25-Jun-2000

In a pleasant match, played from Zimbabwe's viewpoint against the backdrop of the country's crucial elections, the touring team beat Somerset at Taunton by 21 runs with eight balls to spare. The weather was pleasant, although the ground was never quite half full, and the match was competitive until the last four overs.

Some sub-standard fielding showed that Zimbabwe's thoughts may have been centred elsewhere, but a century from Neil Johnson and successful bowling by Gary Brent and acting captain Heath Streak were enough to see them home against a Somerset team missing, like so many county teams against tourists, several key players. These included Test bowler Andy Caddick and captain Jamie Cox, with Marcus Trescothick taking over the captaincy.

On a bright, fresh morning the Zimbabweans won the toss and decided to bat on one of Taunton's traditionally good batting pitches with a fast outfield. Both teams turned out fully clad in their gaily-coloured pyjamas, but the ground at the start was less than a quarter full.

Craig Wishart opened with Johnson, the latter surviving a good lbw appeal by Graham Rose off the first ball of the match but quickly producing a classic off-drive to the boundary off Jamie Grove, followed by another that left cover standing in Grove's next over. Opposing bowlers should know by now about Johnson's preferences, but so many still take a while to learn where to avoid putting the ball. Wishart had a narrow escape on 4 when a firm chance to short extra cover went down.

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West Indies v Hampshire

In nicely overcast conditions, and with the pitch expected to give the faster bowlers some help, as it always does at Southampton, the West Indies did the correct thing first

Colin Croft

25-Jun-2000

In nicely overcast conditions, and with the pitch expected to give the faster bowlers some help, as it always does at Southampton, the West Indies did the correct thing first. They won the toss. Immediately, the West Indies elected to field first and Hampshire's openers, Giles White and John Stephenson, found the going tough.

Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, playing their first game outside of a Test match for the tour so far, started proceedings and produced some difficult deliveries, with steep bounce and movement away from the right-handed opening batsmen.

The first three overs, two from Ambrose and one from Walsh, produced maidens. It was not until the 4th over that a run was scored, but not from the bat. Walsh bowled a wide. Ambrose's 3rd over was also a maiden, but Walsh gave away 11 runs in his 3rd, including 5 extras, no-balls and wides. Ambrose's 1st spell read 4-3-5-0.

In over 10, Walsh struck. He deceived White with a very quick leg-cutter, the resulting edge easily taken by wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs. White out for 06, Hampshire 18-1. Soon after, Walsh was rested with figures of 6-1-17-1. After 15 overs, Hampshire were 36-1.

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Leicestershire v Gloucestershire

Leicestershire turned in an excellent all-round performance, to trounce Gloucestershire at Grace Road

Sean Beynon

25-Jun-2000

Leicestershire turned in an excellent all-round performance, to trounce Gloucestershire at Grace Road.

They will have been grateful to Darren Maddy and Vince Wells, who both managed half centuries to give Leicestershire a total of 218 in their 45 overs.

Maddy blasted 87 from just 76 balls, whilst Wells was somewhat fortunate 59. After a dreadful start - some excellent bowling from Mike Smith and a couple of wickets from Ian Harvey saw the Foxes in trouble - Wells began to find his feet. He blasted James Averis out of the ground, and was particularly strong through the off side. Wells was however, dropped twice, once by Windows, then by Cawdron.

If Wells was a touch fortunate, Maddy was the image of professionalism. He scored at around a run a ball from the off, first with quick singles. The England discard picked the gaps in the field brilliantly, rarely missing an opportunity to score. Maddy also hit two massive sixes and four fours. He was given good support from Phil DeFreitas, who made 30 from 34 balls, only to limp off with a groin strain when the Foxes fielded.

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West Indies v New Zealand 'A', Day 4 of 4

New Zealand "A", who have taken this four day game with the West Indies as seriously as playing a Test match, had a very difficult task on their hands

Colin Croft

24-Jun-2000

New Zealand "A", who have taken this four day game with the West Indies as seriously as playing a Test match, had a very difficult task on their hands. After making 193 in their 1st innings, they had been set a winning target of 421 from a minimum of 96 overs.

They finished up at 206-6, thus effecting an honorable draw, with left-handed opener Mark Richardson being the sixth and final wicket to fall, for a well-made 74, made in over four and a half hours of batting, and including ten fours. He was caught by substitute fielder Sherwin Campbell at slip from the gentle leg-spin of Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Not out at the close, with about 15 overs still to be bowled in the enveloping gloom, were Scott Styris on 31 not out and wicket-keeper Martyn Croy on 18 not out.

After making 232 in their 1st innings, the West Indies declared their 2nd innings closed at the overnight 381-7. That included 130 by opener Adrian Griffith, his first century since December last year, and half centuries for Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds and Ramnaresh Sarwan, very good batting practice for the 2nd Test which starts on Thursday next. All-rounder Glen Sulzberger had 4-102 with his off-spin.

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Pakistan Overwhelm Sri Lanka

With defeat staring in the face, Sri Lanka resumed the innings at 45 for 1, trailing by 374 runs

Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim

24-Jun-2000

With defeat staring in the face, Sri Lanka resumed the innings at 45 for 1, trailing by 374 runs. There were few spectators around to watch the game. Facing the Pakistan bowling with full confidence, the batsmen tried to dig in. They were picking up runs where possible without taking any risks. Marvan Atapattu (30) and Russel Arnold (20) raised Sri Lanka to 76 for 1 after 10 overs of the day.

Pakistan bowlers working hard to break the partnership succeeded when Russel Arnold was trapped LBW by Waqar Younis for 26. Sri Lanka lost the 2nd wicket for 91, and were 123 for 2 at lunch.

The period after lunch brought crisis to Sri Lanka when Atapattu was smartly held by Moin Khan off Arshad Khan, after contributing an invaluable 59 to Sri Lanka's total of 123 for 3. Aravinda De Silva was the next to leave, when Arshad Khan made him snick to Mohammad Wasim fielding at forward short leg for 4. Sri Lanka thus lost the 4th precious wicket with only 130 runs on the score board.

Former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga took the crease with tremendous confidence. With his vast experience of the game, he was obviously expected to stem the rot. Yes, he stood there like a rock but could not possibly guarantee the other end that remained vulnerable. Jayawardene left after scoring only 9 runs, and was followed by Kaluwitharana who also contributed the same number.

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Outlaws top NCL Division Two after hard fought victory

Nottinghamshire Outlaws went to the top of the Norwich Union National Cricket League Second Division with a hard-fought victory at Trent Bridge

24-Jun-2000

Nottinghamshire Outlaws went to the top of the Norwich Union National Cricket League Second Division with a hard-fought victory at Trent Bridge. Chasing 178 to win, the Outlaws achieved their target with four wickets and 15 balls to spare.

After winning the toss, Essex should have scored more than their eventual 177-9. That they got that respectable a score was due in no small measure to late order hitting from Cowan and Mason, after their batsmen failed to capitalise on a bright start.

The Essex openers plundered 30 off the first 5 overs, with Stuart Law in particular profiting from an inconsistent line and length from the Nottinghamshire opening bowlers. However, when Lucas found the right length, it immediately produced dividends - a fine inswinging yorker taking the important wicket of Stuart Law.

The arrival of out-of-form England captain Nasser Hussain saw a transformation in the pace of the innings. Hussain, looking for time in the middle prior to the second Test, struggled for timing throughout his innings, scoring just 3 from 28 balls before falling to Paul Franks. The Notts all-rounder showed with his pace and control why is so highly thought of by the England selectors.

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Worcestershire beat Somerset by 4 runs

Graeme Hick played himself back into form with a match-winning 101 as his Worcestershire side overcame Somerset by four runs in a National League top-of-the-table match at Taunton

Mark Easterbrook

24-Jun-2000

Graeme Hick played himself back into form with a match-winning 101 as his Worcestershire side overcame Somerset by four runs in a National League top-of-the-table match at Taunton.

Hick's hundred dominated a Worcestershire score of 222-8, while half centuries from Peter Bowler (67) and Mike Burns (56) were the mainstays of Somerset's 218-8.

The victory kept Worcestershire Royals at the top of the first division with 24 points from seven games. Somerset remain in second place, eight points behind but with a game in hand.

Somerset had decided not to particpate in the Norwich Union free admission promotion for National League matches over the weekend.

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Gloucestershire complete comfortable victory over Yorkshire

Gloucestershire Gladiators moved up to third in National League Division One on Saturday, with a 51 run victory over the Yorkshire Phoenix

Sean Beynon

24-Jun-2000

Gloucestershire Gladiators moved up to third in National League Division One on Saturday, with a 51 run victory over the Yorkshire Phoenix. Ian Harvey turned in a marvellous all-round performance, whilst Mike Smith sent down the match winning spell of the day, as Yorkshire chased after 211.