Report
Zimbabwe draw with British Universities
Thanks to rain, which wiped out all but 11 balls from the pre-lunch session, the match was doomed to be a draw
John Ward
23-Jun-2000
Thanks to rain, which wiped out all but 11 balls from the pre-lunch session,
the match was doomed to be a draw. Zimbabwe duly batted out the final day,
which saw at least some positive batting from Craig Wishart, who scored a
century, and Dirk Viljoen and Heath Streak, who recorded unbeaten seventies.
They finished on 441 for six, with Viljoen finishing on 72 and Streak on 71.
The Zimbabweans went in to bat with the aim of making quick runs, with
overnight batsmen Stuart Carlisle and Craig Wishart both overdue for major
innings. The overnight score was 196 for two (Carlisle 60, Wishart 58).
Wishart got going in the first over, pulling Franklin over midwicket for
four. But a mere six runs off 11 balls were scored before the rain started
coming down for the first break of the day. With drizzle continuing on and
off, no further play was possible before lunch.
On their past record, the Zimbabweans would surely have done their bets
to press for victory, but when play restarted at 1.30 a result was virtually
impossible on a good pitch. The break did for Carlisle; with only three
runs added, he slashed at Charles Pimlott and was caught at first slip by
James Pyemont for 65.
For a while Zimbabwe did nothing to show the enterprise evident during
their 11-ball pre-lunch session, perhaps because the conditions were damper,
perhaps because all hope of any kind of result had now gone and perhaps
because the University bowlers were now spraying the ball so far afield that
not many of them could be reached. Wishart hit a few good strokes, mainly
through midwicket, including two in successive balls off off-spinner Gavin
Franklin, who conceded 39 runs off his five overs, and 78 off 10 in the
whole innings. This enabled Wishart to race to his fourth career century,
after which he drove powerfully on the off side, until at 116 he tried to
pull a ball from Mark Tournier which kept very low, and he was trapped lbw.
He hit 4 sixes and 12 fours, and the total was 283 for four.
Full postWest Indies v New Zealand 'A', Day 3 of 4
Starting the 3rd day at 50-0, the West Indies, generally, made excellent use of the good batting conditions to give their early order batsmen some very much needed batting practice in their last first class innings before the 2nd Test, despite the
Colin Croft
23-Jun-2000
Starting the 3rd day at 50-0, the West Indies, generally, made excellent use of the good batting conditions to give their early order batsmen some very much needed batting practice in their last first class innings before the 2nd Test, despite the less than impressive showing by Brian Lara and Jimmy Adams. At the close of Day 3, the West Indies are 381-7, made from 113 overs, with Mahendra Nagamootoo on 07 not out, while Wayne Phillip is yet to score. They now have an overall lead of 420 with three second innings wickets in hand.
Chris Gayle, who opened with Griffith, was the first to go, with the score on 132, for a well made 65, made in 175 minutes from 143 balls, and including nine fours and one six. Gayle had only one chance, when he was on 48, when he was dropped by Bruce Martin at long-on, an easy catch, from Chris Martin's bowling. The score was then 105. Gayle's fifty came up in 146 minutes, from 116 balls, with seven fours and one six. This innings could give him some confidence for the 2nd Test at Lords next week, as the West Indies are expected to name an unchanged team for that Test.
A special positive note here on the West Indies batting. This century opening partnership between Griffith and Gayle is the first century partnership for a West Indian opening pair since December 16 last year, when Sherwin Campbell and the same Adrian Griffith made a century partnership, 282, to be exact, against New Zealand in the 1st Test, in Hamilton.
Wavell Hinds came in and immediately attempted to beat the cover from the ball. When Hinds came to the crease, Griffith already had 46, yet at lunch, Hinds had already managed 31 while Griffith had struggled to 55, the West Indies 174-1 at the interval. In one over, from Bruce Martin, Hinds had hit three fours and a six.
Full postWasim and Younis add to Sri Lankas agony
With a lead of 160 runs, Pakistan was in the driving seat when it resumed the innings at the score of 341 for 5
Col (Retd)Rafi Nasim
23-Jun-2000
With a lead of 160 runs, Pakistan was in the driving seat when it resumed the innings at the score of 341 for 5. They were determined to carry on with the innings to build up a +challenging lead but one could not imagine the level they ultimately achieved. The heroic innings by Younis Khan and Wasim Akram led them to a mammoth total of 600 runs, providing Sri Lanka, a sky high target of 420 runs to win in two days and 25 overs. It was Pakistan's day of fantastic cricket.
Younis Khan and Abdur Razzaq started with full confidence of staying at the crease and piling up runs. With an impressive lead at the back, they were scoring a four in almost every over. In 129 overs, the pair hoisted Pakistan's 400 on the board. By lunch, the score rose to 427 with Younis Khan (72) and Razzaq (35) holding the crease.
The bowlers not making much of an impact, the batsmen were almost dictating terms. Sri Lanka, however, achieved the important break through when Abdur Razzaq was bowled by Muralitharan after scoring an invaluable 48. Pakistan lost the 6th wicket at 446.
Wasim Akram was again promoted in the batting order, rightly to enhance the pace of scoring. Comprising of a stream of fours and sixes, the partnership between Younis Khan and Wasim Akram created unprecedented excitement among the crowed. They punished the bowlers so severely and consistently that even the master spinner like Muralitharan was reduced to ashes. On one occasion Wasim Akram hit him for a fabulous six and four, his over conceding 13 runs. By smashing Herath to the square leg boundary, Younis Khan hoisted his second ton in test cricket. The first one, he scored in his debut test at Rawalpindi, also against Sri Lanka.
Full postWarwickshire beat Surrey under lights at Edgbaston
The Surrey Lions eased their way to victory over the Warwickshire Bears under lights last night at Edgbaston
Sean Beynon
23-Jun-2000
The Surrey Lions eased their way to victory over the Warwickshire Bears
under lights last night at Edgbaston. The victory, by seven wickets places
the Lions at the top of the National League Division Two.
Surrey were set 163 to win, and, at the innings break, everything looked set up for a close game. However, Alistair Brown and Alec Stewart took the game out of the Bears reach with some tremendous shots.
After the early loss of Butcher, both Stewart and Brown launched at some weak bowling. Stewart was typically fierce on anything pitched up on off stump. Brown savaged anything short, and both men hit big sixes. Stewart launched Giles for a straight six, whilst Brown repeated the feat, against the pace of Ed Giddins. Brown was badly dropped by Smith at mid-wicket, but by the time he was out - for 45, to an awful leg before decision - the damage had been done.
Graham Thorpe joined the fun with a couple of crisply timed cover drives to the ropes. He was run out from a terrible mix up, and it was left to Alec Stewart and Adam Hollioake to guide the Lions home. Hollioake found it impossible to get himself in, tied down in particular by Graeme Welch.
Full postWest Indies v New Zealand 'A', Day 2 of 4
The West Indies made up with their bowling and fielding on the 2nd day what they lost by their batting on the 1st
Colin Croft
22-Jun-2000
The West Indies made up with their bowling and fielding on the 2nd day what they lost by their batting on the 1st. After dismissing New Zealand "A" for 193, giving them a nice lead of 39, after making 232 in their 1st innings, the West Indies are 50-0, after 24 overs, in their 2nd innings, an overall lead of 89. Adrian Griffith is 23 not out, including four fours, while Chris Gayle is 26 not out, also including four boundaries.
The rains came with about half an hour and six more overs to be completed for the 2nd day.
Earlier, New Zealand "A" started the 2nd day on 90-2, with Mark Richardson on 38 not out and Bruce Martin, the night-watchman, yet to score. The partnership did not last, but, surprisingly, it was the better batsman, Richardson, who went first.
He had added only 01 run to his overnight score when he played, half-cocked, to a good Reon King delivery, the 5th of the morning, the resulting edge speeding to Brian Lara, who took a very sharp catch at 1st slip. Richardson out for 39, including five 4's; New Zealand "A" 92-3.
Full postCambridge, Close: Zimbabweans 196/2 (61.2 overs Carlisle 60, Wishart 58)
Rain ruined the prospect of the match between the Universities and the Zimbabwean tourists reaching a conventional finish
John Ward
22-Jun-2000
Rain ruined the prospect of the match between the Universities and the
Zimbabwean tourists reaching a conventional finish. When the weather finally brought play on the second day of three to a close, the tourists were 196 for two off 61.2 overs (Stuart Carlisle 60, Craig Wishart 58). This was in reply to the Universities' morning declaration at 261 for eight.
A bright and sunny morning had clouded over by the time play started,
with the Universities continuing their innings. Joe Porter, on 90 overnight, was pressing for his maiden first-class century, while Heath Streak bowled with fierce determination that he was not going to get it.
Perhaps Streak's fire unsettled Porter, as he tried too hard to score
off Gary Brent at the other end, and after one or two over-ambitious strokes
tried to pull him, only to hit the ball on the bottom of the bat and lob a
straight-forward catch to Bryan Strang at mid-off. He made 93, and at this
point the Universities' captain Richard Dawson declared. Strang himself had
the best Zimbabwean bowling figures of three for 42 off 22 overs, while
Streak, although wayward early on the first day, bowled superbly later on
without taking a wicket. In his 20 overs he conceded only 21 runs.
There was a light shower between innings, which led to a short delay before Zimbabwe came out to bat. Neil Johnson was deputed to open the innings with Guy Whittall, with Craig Wishart, brought into the squad for the triangular tournament, demoted to the depths of the middle order. Johnson was soon under way with a typical boundary through extra cover off Charles Pimlott, who opened the bowling opposite Mark Tournier. When Tournier pitched short, Johnson pulled him for a one-bounce four over midwicket, then drove a four and three to extra cover, as usual, off successive balls from Pimlott.
Full postTons by Saeed and Inzamam force Sri Lanka on the backfoot
With a view to square up Sri Lanka's score of 184, the over-night batsmen Saeed Anwar and Yousuf Youhana started off very cautiously
Col (Retd)Rafi Nasim
22-Jun-2000
With a view to square up Sri Lanka's score of 184, the over-night batsmen Saeed Anwar and Yousuf Youhana started off very cautiously. They scored only 7 runs in the first 10 overs of the day, including four consecutive maiden overs. At one stage a run was scored in 38 balls. With their slow and steady march to the target they raised Pakistan's score to 153 for 2 by lunch, with Saeed Anwar (77) and Yousuf Youhana (40) well sattled at the crease. Muralitharan was the giant killer frightening the batsmen with his baffling spin and keeping them in check.
As the game resumed after lunch, Sri Lanka achieved first break through of the day when Yousuf Youhana was out after scoring invaluable 41 runs. Pakistan lost the 3rd wicket at 161.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the veteran of many victories for Pakistan came to bat. His arrival at the crease changed the whole complexion of the game. The rate of scoring went up. With a lovely cover drive to Vaas he squared up Sri Lanka's total of 181 runs.
After overtaking the Sri Lanka's score, the batsmen were almost at the rampage. Inzamam-ul-Haq hit Pushpakumara for three fours in one over. The long awaited moment of rejoicing came when Saeed Anwar completed his superb century, scored with the help of 11 fours and one six. It was his 10th test century.
Full postEngland women take 2-0 lead in one-day series
England Women produced another encouraging result in their preparations for the CricInfo Women's World Cup as they beat South Africa by 9 wickets in a rain-affected match at Trent Bridge
22-Jun-2000
England Women produced another encouraging result in their preparations for the CricInfo Women's World Cup as they beat South Africa by 9 wickets in a rain-affected match at Trent Bridge.
The rain rules, bizarrely avoiding the reliable yet incomprehensible Duckworth Lewis system, played straight into England's hands. Captain Clare Connor remarked as such as she won the toss and elected to bowl. Man of the Match Lucy Pearson produced a devastating opening spell from which the South Africans struggled to recover.
England's team spirit and fielding was electrifying throughout. Arran Thompson's catch in the first over set the standard for all that was to follow. Every appeal was uniformly supported in the field, and every wicket greeted with genuine excitement. None more so that the run out of Cindy Eksteen just as South Africa were heading confidently towards a good total, with Jane Cassar gathering a wild throw as she fell backwards, rapidly recovering to whip off the bails.
The South African batsmen were positive throughout, despite losing regular wickets. The sixth wicket partnership of 74 between Eksteen and Davies ensured a total that would have been competitive without the intervention of the now familiar Trent Bridge rain.
Full postCambridge, Close: British Universities 270/7 (109 overs, Porter 90, Murtagh 6)
It was a good day for the Universities, and especially their 20-year-old left-hander Joe Porter of the Oxford Universities, fresh from three consecutive first-class fifties
John Ward
21-Jun-2000
It was a good day for the Universities, and especially their 20-year-old
left-hander Joe Porter of the Oxford Universities, fresh from three
consecutive first-class fifties. They had the advantage of winning the toss
on a good batting pitch and worked hard against their more experienced
opponents, and Porter exemplified their approach in a fine innings that may
yet yield him a maiden first-class century.
The weather forecast predicted 'bright and breezy' - the breezy was spot-on and the bright came mainly after the tea interval. The crowd was disappointing, though, not far into three figures.
The very tall Durham University player Will Jefferson, on the Essex staff and estimated to be 6 foot 9 inches tall, almost began the match with a four flicked off his toes, as Heath Streak strayed to leg, but a fine save by Bryan Strang on the long-leg boundary reduced it to three. Jefferson was the more confident of the openers, later hitting Strang through the covers before, as his shorter partner Matthew Banes struggled to make contact, often beaten outside the off stump. Banes finally got one away as he cut Strang over gully for four, and then turned him to fine leg for another boundary. He then looked much more secure and settled down to play a sound innings.
The stand lasted 95 minutes for 62 runs before Jefferson (41) finally skied a ball over mid-off off Paul Strang, and Guy Whittall running back judged the catch well. Jefferson had played some impressive strokes and used his height well to attack the bad ball. James Pyemont of the local university did not last long, scoring four runs before Dirk Viljoen trapped him lbw in his first over - his usual fate, according to the locals - reducing the students to 71 for two. Banes continued to play some attractive strokes, driving confidently now, and was still unbeaten at lunch, when the Universities were 89 for two off 37 overs; Banes 33, Porter 2).
Full postWest Indies v New Zealand 'A', Day 1
Having won the toss and electing to bat first, the West Indies squandered a golden opportunity to capitalize on a good batting pitch, with very consistent bounce, and a fairly fast outfield, all which should have enabled them to make a big score, and
Colin Croft
21-Jun-2000
Having won the toss and electing to bat first, the West Indies squandered a golden opportunity to capitalize on a good batting pitch, with very consistent bounce, and a fairly fast outfield, all which should have enabled them to make a big score, and more importantly, get their batsmen some much needed practice for the 2nd Test a week on Thursday.
At the close of play on Day 1, New Zealand "A", in reply to the West Indies 1st innings of 232 all out, are 90-2, from 33 overs, with left-handed Mark Richardson on 38 not out, playing well, while Bruce Martin, the night-watchman, is yet to score. Richardson was dropped while on 04 by Chris Gayle at 2nd slip, while Michael Papps, then on 14, was also dropped by the same fieldsman, at the same position, this time from Franklyn Rose's bowling, from the 1st ball of Rose's second spell.
Already out are James Marshall, who made 00, palpably LBW to a fast Reon King off-cutting delivery in the first over; New Zealand "A" 0-1, and Michael Papps, who made a very creditable 42, before he was caught by Chris Gayle at slip from Mahendra Nagamootoo's bowling; 85-2. Papps and Richardson put on 85 for the 2nd wicket.
Earlier, the West Indies started aggressively.
Full post