Report
The dreaded mancunian weather ruins a possible epic
Overnight, it was all set up so nicely
Colin Croft
08-Aug-2000
Overnight, it was all set up so nicely. The West Indies had led by 235 overnight on the 4th day, at 381-6, and all expected that a declaration would be forthcoming after the first hour of Day 5, with perhaps an additional 30-40 runs. In effect, the eventual West Indian declaration did not come until about 75 minutes had elapsed, before the luncheon interval, by which time Franklyn Rose had been LBW to Craig White for 10. In the meantime, Ridley Jacobs and Curtly Ambrose had bludgeoned a further 54 after the fall of Rose's wicket before the end of the innings, at 438-6, with Jacobs getting a good 42 not out, while Ambrose got a useful 36 not out.
Even before the declaration, it was very evident that the rains would make an appearance some time sooner rather than later, and that did happen. Set a whopping 293 to win in a possible 71 overs, England might have struggled even on a normal day, as that was a tough ask. As it was, the rains put paid to any plans that either team would have had, and even though Courtney Walsh did get his 472nd Test wicket, that of Mike Atherton, again, this time nibbling to the wicket-keeper Jacobs, a result was impossible. Atherton made 28, but that, as the saying goes, was that. By the time the rains came, England had made 80-1, with the impressive Marcus Trescothick managing 38 not out to add to his 66 in the 1st innings. Not a bad start for a Test career.
Both captains should have been very pleased with the efforts of their players, as both teams showed great fighting spirits when situations looked marginal, while some consistency was achieved by both teams; the West Indies in batting more than bowling, with Brian Lara and the other batsmen showing some great improvement from Lords; England bowling more than batting, even with the excellence of Marcus Trescothick and Alec Stewart. In the end, it was a toss up as to whom would get the "Man of the Match" award, as there were only two real contenders, Brian Lara with his first Test century for 16 months, or Alec Stewart, with a Test century on his 100th Test. Sentiment and form, too, won out, with Stewart getting the nod.
Afterwards, Jimmy Adams, the West Indies captain, Nasser Hussain, the English captain, and Alec Stewart, the M-o-M award winner, spoke:
Full postSouth Africa in driving seat as rain stops play
Divan Van Wyk continued his top form in the Costcutter U15 World Challenge 2000 with a superb innings to put South Africa in the driving seat in their semi-final against West Indies at Hove
Kate Laven
08-Aug-2000
Divan Van Wyk continued his top form in the Costcutter U15 World Challenge 2000 with a superb innings to put South Africa in the driving seat in their semi-final against West Indies at Hove.
When the rain returned with seven overs of the innings still remaining, left-hander Van Wyk, who has been South Africa's top scorer in the competition, had made a mature and unbeaten 77 featuring eight boundaries and a touch of class.
Umpires took the players off with the score 191 for five after the 43rd over produced two wickets, including Vaughn Van Jaarsveld, another left-hander who put on 105 with Van Wyk for the fourth wicket.
Van Jaarsveld holed out to mid on while replacement batsman Peter Laing was leg before a couple of balls later, both wickets falling to West Indies skipper Tishan Maraj.
Full postSussex finds the way to finish things off
Completely contrasting finishes to the two teams' innings have seen Sussex claim a morale-boosting 26 run win (under the Duckworth/Lewis method) over Lancashire in a tense National League match between the sides at Hove today
Staff and agencies
08-Aug-2000
Completely contrasting finishes to the two teams' innings have seen Sussex
claim a morale-boosting 26 run win (under the Duckworth/Lewis method) over
Lancashire in a tense National League match between the sides at Hove today.
For large periods of this match, the hosts appeared to be in trouble. Upon
winning the toss, they almost immediately found themselves in difficulty;
Ian Austin (1/32), Andy Flintoff (1/37) and Glen Chapple (2/62) all
striking quickly to reduce the score to 64/4. It was only, in fact, when a
swashbuckling Will House (80*) and Dutchman Bastiaan Zuiderent (68), in
only his second appearance for Sussex's first team this season, joined to
add a breathtaking 141 runs for the fifth wicket that there came a
restoration.
Even then, though, there was no guarantee that Sussex's final tally of
213/6 would prove large enough on what looked a good batting wicket. This
suspicion received reinforcement when Andy Flintoff (41) and Neil
Fairbrother (41) took charge of the early stages of Lancashire's reply,
lifting the score to 92/2 in quick time. Two errant shots in quick
succession temporarily changed the balance, however, and Sussex's bowlers
were intermittently able to drop on to a more nagging line and length as
their opponents chased a revised target of 219 to win from 41 overs. The
match again appeared headed in the visitors' favour as Graham Lloyd (28)
and Warren Hegg (20) lifted the score to 142/4 with a flurry of singles
but, once Robin Martin-Jenkins (2/37) summoned the ability to find a way
through Hegg's gate, things began to unravel. Martin-Jenkins and Billy
Taylor (2/30) quickly accounted for a further three victims before James
Kirtley (4/45) - having earlier claimed two at the start of the innings -
returned to capture another two wickets and put the finishing touches on a
collapse which had, by then, seen Lancashire surrender its final six
wickets for the addition of a miserable fifty runs.
Full postHeavens open up to guide Indian Airlines into semis
MRF suffered a heartbreaking seven wicket defeat to Indian Airlines in the quarter finals of the KSCA Diamond Jubilee Tournament for the Coromandel Cement Trophy at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Tuesday despite piling up an imposing 321/3
Sankhya Krishnan
08-Aug-2000
MRF suffered a heartbreaking seven wicket defeat to Indian
Airlines in the quarter finals of the KSCA Diamond Jubilee
Tournament for the Coromandel Cement Trophy at the M
Chinnaswamy stadium on Tuesday despite piling up an imposing
321/3. Their calculations were upset by a rain interruption
which revised their opponents' target to 167 from 26 overs.
Hemang Badani (man of the match) and Rajat Bhatia had put
Airlines to the sword in the morning session but the latter
had the last laugh, cantering home with nine balls to spare on
the back of a classy knock from VVS Laxman.
After MRF were put in to bat by Airlines skipper Vijay Dahiya,
opener Aashish Kapoor stroked a rapid 25 from 23 balls before
he fell to Javagal Srinath. Vineet Jain then sent back
Venugopala Rao and Hrishikesh Kanitkar to leave MRF at 82/3 in
the 17th over. Tamil Nadu team mates Badani and Bhatia then
blasted an unbroken 239-run stand from 270 balls in two and a
quarter hours. Badani helped himself to 143 (112 balls, 8
fours, 5 sixes) while Bhatia galloped to 107 (113 balls, 6
fours, 4 sixes).
Chasing 322, Airlines began disastrously as Sriram Kannan
castled Munish Sharma for a first ball duck. Arun Kumar and
Ravneet Ricky also flattered to deceive and IA found
themselves in a pickle at 29/3 in the seventh over. However
just over an hour into the chase, the heavens opened up
leading to a stoppage for an hour and a quarter. When play
resumed at 4.05 pm, Airlines were presented with a more
comfortable equation. Laxman and Dahiya extended their
association to an unbroken 138 and the victory was posted in
the penultimate over. Laxman remained undefeated on 95 (75
balls, 4 fours, 6 sixes). Indian Airlines will square off
against India Pistons in a three day semifinal at the
Chinnaswamy Stadium beginning August 11.
Full postDraw seems inevitable after further rain
England began the final day knowing that a quick breakthrough by their bowlers might just give them an outside chance of victory in the Third Test against the West Indies
John Ward
07-Aug-2000
England began the final day knowing that a quick breakthrough by their
bowlers might just give them an outside chance of victory in the Third Test
against the West Indies. Although they took one quick wickets, this was not
to be, but at lunch they looked well on their way to securing the draw that
is now their only realistic option.
The day began with West Indies 381 for six, 235 runs ahead, in their second innings. Three runs were added before Franklyn Rose (10) moved across his stumps to be trapped lbw by Craig White. Curtly Ambrose (36 not out) played some lusty strokes, including a six into the sightscreen off Robert Croft, as he and Ridley Jacobs (42 not out) ran up a brisk unbroken partnership of 54 before Jimmy Adams declared at 12.05. The West Indian total was 438 for seven.
England needed, in theory, 293 to win in a minimum of 71 overs, a task that was never on. Their aim now could only be an honourable draw. The highest winning fourth-innings total at Old Trafford in more than 100 years of Test cricket is only 145 for seven, in 1955 when South Africa beat England.
Full postHampshire v Leicestershire 1st Day Report - Lunch
Early rain meant a delayed start to the PPP healthcare County Championship match at the County Ground, Southampton
Vic Isaacs
07-Aug-2000
Early rain meant a delayed start to the PPP healthcare County Championship match at the County Ground, Southampton.
Alex Morris returned to the Hampshire side after a two month absence, replacing Shane Warne who is away on International duties. Adi Aymes also returned after missing the Derbyshire match. Leicestershire were weakened by the absence of overseas star Anil Kumble with a knee injury, Philip DeFreitas (side strain), Chris Lewis (back injury) and opening bowler James Ormond.
Hampshire took advantage of the cloudy conditions, after a delayed start by putting Leicestershire into bat, and immediately the decision paid dividends.
Alan Mullally continued his rich vein of form by dismissing his former team mates Darren Maddy and Ben Smith for 28, however Ian Sutcliffe surpassed his season best score and with Aftab Habib shared a 67 run partnership, unbeaten at lunch as the sun came out.
Full postEngland set 293 to win
England began the final day knowing that a quick breakthrough by their bowlers might just give them an outside chance of victory in the Third Test against the West Indies
John Ward
07-Aug-2000
England began the final day knowing that a quick breakthrough by their
bowlers might just give them an outside chance of victory in the Third Test
against the West Indies. Although they took one quick wickets, this was not
to be, but at lunch they looked well on their way to securing the draw that
is now their only realistic option.
The day began with West Indies 381 for six, 235 runs ahead, in their second innings. Three runs were added before Franklyn Rose (10) moved across his stumps to be trapped lbw by Craig White. Curtly Ambrose (36 not out) played some lusty strokes, including a six into the sightscreen off Robert Croft, as he and Ridley Jacobs (42 not out) ran up a brisk unbroken partnership of 54 before Jimmy Adams declared at 12.05. The West Indian total was 438 for seven.
England needed, in theory, 293 to win in a minimum of 71 overs, a task that was never on. Their aim now could only be an honourable draw. The highest winning fourth-innings total at Old Trafford in more than 100 years of Test cricket is only 145 for seven, in 1955 when South Africa beat England.
Full postWeather forces premature conclusion to Third Test
England began the final day knowing that a quick breakthrough by their bowlers might just give them an outside chance of victory in the Third Test against the West Indies
John Ward
07-Aug-2000
England began the final day knowing that a quick breakthrough by their bowlers might just give them an outside chance of victory in the Third Test against the West Indies. Although they took one quick wicket, this was not to be, but at lunch they looked well on their way to securing the draw that was now their only realistic option. In the event, most of the afternoon session was lost to rain, with bad light finally ending a match that had so much potential for a fine finish.
The day began with West Indies 381 for six, 235 runs ahead, in their second innings. Three runs were added before Franklyn Rose (10) moved across his stumps to be trapped lbw by Craig White. Curtly Ambrose (36 not out) played some lusty strokes, including a six into the sightscreen off Robert Croft, as he and Ridley Jacobs (42 not out) ran up a brisk unbroken partnership of 54 before Jimmy Adams declared at 12.05. The West Indian total was 438 for seven.
England needed, in theory, 293 to win in a minimum of 71 overs, a task that was never likely. The highest winning fourth-innings total at Old Trafford in more than 100 years of Test cricket is only 145 for seven, in 1955 when South Africa beat England.
Full postStewart and Lara make for memorable Test
Incessant showers on the first and last day ensured that the third Test was robbed of its competitive edge
Andy Jalil
07-Aug-2000
Incessant showers on the first and last day ensured that the third Test was
robbed of its competitive edge. But the fairy-tale happenings with
man-of-the-match Alec Stewart and the display given by a resurgent Brian
Lara, which held us spellbound, made the Test so memorable.
Needless to say the modest West Indies total in the first innings, in the
face of some fine pace bowling had gone a long way in raising England's hopes
- until the third day - of forging ahead in the series. As it happened, the
honours were shared with England knocking off 80 of the 293 runs that West
Indies had set them as a winning target. In the process they lost Michael
Atherton's wicket after a 61-run opening stand.
Had Ridley Jacobs held the straightforward chance behind the stumps, offered
by Nasser Hussain on one, West Indies would, understandably, have felt, if
they hadn't earlier, that had this game gone its full course, without the
equivalent of a day's play being lost, they could have been in a position to
force a victory. After all, had more time been available, they would not have
declared until a larger lead had been gained.
Full postTrent Bridge game looks destined from draw
Nottinghamshire went into the final day of their Championship match against Warwickshire realising that a home victory was the least likely result with them only 129 ahead with 5 wickets left and the Trent Bridge strip looking ideal for batting
Dave Bracegirdle
06-Aug-2000
Nottinghamshire went into the final day of their Championship match against Warwickshire realising that a home victory was the least likely result with them only 129 ahead with 5 wickets left and the Trent Bridge strip looking ideal for batting.
Darren Bicknell and Chris Read the overnight not out batsmen extended their partrnership to 49 for the sixth wicket before Allan Donald struck with his first wicket of the innings. Bicknell, who batted at number 7 due to back problems had made a resolute 25 before attempting to square cut the pace ace. The speed of the delivery produced a thick top edge and Ashley Giles, on the third man boundary, took a straightforward catch.
Paul Franks joined Read and helped put on 31 before he fell to Dougie Brown, edging to Dominic Ostler at second slip.
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