Report
Adams at his best
St
Tony Cozier
30-May-2000
St. John's - It was as close, tense and topsy-turvy as they come and
it took a captain's innings of nerveless, single-minded determination,
combined with a helping of necessary luck, to resolve it. Jimmy Adams,
in his fifth Test at the helm of a team his leadership has
revitalised, kept his head and his wicket through three-and-a-quarter
hours of unrelenting pressure yesterday to guide the West Indies to
victory over Pakistan by one wicket in the third and final Test.
Last man Courtney Walsh, unabashed holder of the record number of
ducks in Test cricket but an old hand in such situations, stayed with
Adams for an hour-and-a-quarter, surviving 24 balls to the delight of
the cheering, flag-waving stands as the final 19 runs were eeked out
in a match that remained in the balance throughout.
When they scampered the decisive run on Adams' bat-pad push into the
covers off Wasim Akram half-an-hour after lunch, the captain raised
his hands to the heavens, broke into a smile for the first time in the
five-and-a-half hours he had been in the middle and, physically and
emotionally drained by the effort, lay flat out on the grass.
Almost immediately he was smothered under a heap of his jubilant
players, celebrating a triumph that clinched the threematch series
1-0 and kept intact the record of never losing a series in the
Caribbean to Pakistan.
Full postRain splits India-Bangladesh encounter
Exactly after half the Bangladesh innings was completed, torrential downpour stopped play in the Asia Cup match in Dhaka on Tuesday
Anand Vasu
30-May-2000
Exactly after half the Bangladesh innings was completed, torrential
downpour stopped play in the Asia Cup match in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Sheets and sheets of rain belted down at the Bangabandhu stadium,
leaving the hosts stranded on 98/2. In no time it was obvious that
there was no chance of play resuming. However for the sake of
formalcy, the umpires inspected the conditions at 18.30 hours local
time and called of play for the day. Although there was no mention of
rain interrupted games being later continued in the rules of the
tournament, that is what the Bangladesh Cricket Board has resorted to.
Tomorrow, the players will take the field and attempt to complete this
match. However, the severity of the rains will make it nigh on
impossible for play to start on time.
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first on a belter of a
wicket. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was not particularly worried.
Going into the match with Ajit Agarkar, Thirunavukarasu Kumaran, Anil
Kumble and Sunil Joshi at his disposal in the bowling department,
Ganguly was in an attacking frame of mind. After the drubbing they
received at the hands of the Lankans in the opening match of the
tournament, the morale of the hosts cannot be very high.
Hemang Badani got his first break in international cricket because
Ajay Jadeja was a bit under the weather. The youngster made a good 162
against Mumbai in the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy and has been
rewarded sooner than anyone expected.
Agarkar opened the bowling with Kumaran and bowled with good pace.
Kumaran too stretched himself and struck the first blow for India
bowling the in form Javed Omar in just the fourth over of the day.
Full postECB 38 County Round Up
Cumberland, last season's ECB 38-County Cup losing finalists, opened their Group Eight programme with a comfortable eight-wicket eclipse of the Lancashire Cricket Board at Keswick
Mike Berry
30-May-2000
Cumberland, last season's ECB 38-County Cup losing finalists, opened their
Group Eight programme with a comfortable eight-wicket eclipse of the
Lancashire Cricket Board at Keswick.
Lancashire Cricket Board were bowled out for 151 in 48.1 overs - David Pennett claiming three for 44 - and Cumberland then knocked off the runs in just 33, opener Steve Knox finishing on 75 not out. He faced 100 balls, hitting three sixes and eight fours.
Keswick: Lancs 151 Cumberland 157-2 (ST Knox 75 not) Cumberland won by 8
wickets
Full postSurrey humiliate Hampshire at The Oval
The day night match at The Oval started with a succession of firsts for Surrey this season, it was at home and on time, the darkness and 100% cloud cover were in keeping with the spirit of things and there was life in the pitch
Ed Green
30-May-2000
The day night match at The Oval started with a succession of firsts for Surrey this season, it was at home and on time, the darkness and 100% cloud cover were in keeping with the spirit of things and there was life in the pitch.
This was home, there was a nasty taste in the mouth from the weather and performance related problems of the last few weeks and messrs Bicknell and Tudor were in the mood to make somebody pay. The first four fast, straight overs produced three wickets and held a memory of the home sides great, though so far this year unrealised potential and a hope that given decent conditions and the change to adequately prepare their pitches Surrey's season may take off once again.
From the start it was nice to see proper cricket being played with Surrey deploying a slip cordon for their opening bowlers and the bowlers responding with good line and length. It wasn't until the sixth over that the first boundary of the Hampshire innings was scored - a splendid cover drive by Robin Smith. The skies brightened throughout the Hampshire innings, but although Smith, Warne and Extras attempted to make a game of it, Hampshire, in poor form were always struggling. Warne top scored, despite riding his luck early and surviving not being good enough to touch several deliveries from the intermittently excellent Ben Hollioake he struck several magnificent fours from him.
Stephenson, fifth out with the score on 38, was deeply disappointed to be given out caught behind.
Full post72-The magic number
St
29-May-2000
St. John's The third and final Test between West Indies and Pakistan
is sitting on a knife's edge going into today's final day at the
Antigua Recreation Ground. The West Indies are on 144 for four, 72
runs short of the victory target. Hopes rest with captain Jimmy Adams,
who is on 15 not out, who with Wavell Hinds (63) turned the match in
West Indies' favour.
With the first two matches drawn, the winner of today's contest will
take the series.
Fast bowler Wasim Akram, who took six wickets in the first innings,
has taken three wickets as Pakistan seek to win their first Test
series in the Caribbean.
Full post6 of one, 72 of the other
Replenish the valiums, recheck the heart condition and, just in case, place the champagne on ice
Tony Cozier
29-May-2000
Replenish the valiums, recheck the heart condition and, just in case,
place the champagne on ice.
An enthralling Test match that has been on a knife's edge all the way
through is set for an unbearably tense climax at the Antigua
Recreation Ground this morning.
The equation is straightforward.
The West Indies require another 72 to win the match and the series and
to place a fitting cap on a season in which they have regained
faltering pride and respect. Pakistan need six wickets.
Full postTest 3: Final Day: Pakistan v West Indies: Antigua
The West Indies made a brisk start to their 1st innings
Colin E. Croft
29-May-2000
Lunch Interval:
The West Indies made a brisk start to their 1st innings. At lunch, they are 60-1, with Wavell Hinds, who made his maiden Test century in Barbados, on 14 not out, while opener Adrian Griffith, who was dropped by wicket-keeper Moin Khan from Waqar Younis's bowling when on 01, is on 16 not out.
The West Indian batsman out is Sherwin Campbell, who hit an enterprising 31, including six 4's, before he swiped at a long hop from Mustaq Ahmed, only to be caught at mid-wicket by Yousuf Youhana.
Earlier, the West Indies made very short work of the two remaining Pakistani batsmen as they added only two runs this morning.
Full postGloucestershire book place in Lord's final
Gloucestershire have booked their place in a hat-trick of Lord's finals, as they beat Lancashire by 15 runs at Bristol on Monday
Sean Beynon
29-May-2000
Gloucestershire have booked their place in a hat-trick of Lord's finals, as
they beat Lancashire by 15 runs at Bristol on Monday. Mike Smith led the
Gloucester charge, with figures of 4-27, as the Lancashire chased falters.
The victory furthers Glouctershire's claim to be the premier one-day side in
the country.
A near capacity crowd cheered the Bristol-based side on, with a place in the
final against Glamorgan beckoning. Despite Mike Smith's efforts, it was Rob
Cunliffe who earned the man of the match award, for a sparkling 71.
Gloucestershire won the toss, electing to bat on a pitch which didn't seem
to have suffered any ill effects of the weekend rain. The game, of course,
actually began on the reserve day, after Sunday's effort was ruined thanks
to a sodden outfield. Soon enough, openers Tim Hancock and Kim Barnett were
hitting their straps. Hancock peppered the off-side boundary with
regularity, whilst Barnett was dismissed just as he began to look settled.
The veteran was neatly caught by Hegg, from the bowling of Peter Martin. At
the other end, Ian Austin was his typically miserly self, bowling at a
cracking line and length which the batsmen could do nothing with.
Chris Schofield entered the attack, and was immediately launched way over
long on, then through the covers, by an ever confident Hancock. Just as
Hancock looked as if he may destroy the Lancashire attack, he played a loose
shot, and was well caught down the leg side by Hegg.
Full postDe Silva dazzles in Asia Cup opener
After three days of performing the role of a weather reporter at Dhaka, scribes finally had a chance to do what they had come here for
Anand Vasu
29-May-2000
After three days of performing the role of a weather reporter
at Dhaka, scribes finally had a chance to do what they had come
here for. A window of opportunity in the form of a spell of good
weather made play possible at the Bangabandhu Stadium. If the
sun gods took mercy and shone hard all afternoon, Aravinda de
Silva took over under the lights and dazzled. An unbeaten 96
from the veteran in his first knock as opener saw Sri Lanka breeze
to a nine-wicket victory in the opening match of the seventh
Asia Cup.
When Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and put
the hosts in to bat, Chaminda Vaas responded well, accounting
for two wickets in quick time. Even as Javed Omar waged a lone
battle at one end, Bangladesh slowly but steadily lost wickets
at the other end. Former skipper Akram Khan gave Omar good company
while he was at the crease with some solid blows. The two came
together with Bangladesh on 27/3 and pushed the score past the
hundred mark. Just when Akram Khan looked like he was attempting
to push the scoring rate, he feel to a good running catch in
the outfield by Upul Chandana off the bowling of Aravinda de
Silva. Earlier in the over he struck two boundaries off the spinner
but could not keep the momentum going.
After the fall of the burly Akram Khan, Omar found no one to
partner him in any meaningful manner. Although he helped himself
to an unbeaten 85, Bangladesh could muster only 175 in their
allotted 50 overs.
Debutant Kaushalya Weeraratne, who impressed with his mediumpacers
in the recently concluded Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka, was a
picture of delight when he picked up his first wicket in One
Day Internationals with just the fifth ball he bowled. He ended
with the most respectable figures of 7-1-18-1
Full postTest 3: Day 4: West Indies v Pakistan: Antigua.
The West Indies have started aggressively in the hunt for that 216
Colin E. Croft
28-May-2000
Tea Interval:
The West Indies have started aggressively in the hunt for that 216. They started with about five sessions and 154 overs overall to complete a famous victory. At tea, after 16 overs, they are 62-2, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 19 and Wavell Hinds on 13, including a four and a six in consecutive deliveries from Mustaq Ahmed.
Already out are Sherwin Campbell, for 06, caught at backward square-leg by Yousuf Youhana, hooking to Wasim Akram, while Adrian Griffith, for 23, was also caught at backward square-leg, by Waqar Younis this time, while hooking at Wasim.
Wasim is bowling tremendously quickly and holds the key to this game for Pakistan. With intermittent rain causing the outfield to be wet and the ball slippery, Wasim and Waqar could have extended spells.
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