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West Indies v Pakistan Preview
The 4th Match of the tournament starts at the Volcanic Island of St Vincent amidst buzzing excitement of the islanders who have been keenly waiting for a contest between Pakistan and the West Indies
Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim
12-Apr-2000
The 4th Match of the tournament starts at the Volcanic Island of St Vincent amidst buzzing excitement of the islanders who have been keenly waiting for a contest between Pakistan and the West Indies. In the first three matches, the West Indies defeated Zimbabwe twice while Pakistan defeated them once. Having also defeated Zimbabwe in the two test matches, the hosts seem to be riding high on the advantage that they derive out of the home conditions.
The Pakistan team also having won the Coca-Cola Trophy at Sharjah by defeating the indomitable South Africans twice followed by victory against Zimbabwe in the one dayer are in high spirits. With ace speedster Wasim Akram back in the team, the side will be much stronger than the one that played against Zimbabwe. The West Indies having a dismal record of one-day matches since the World Cup, with only two victories against 13 defeats, Pakistan enjoys a definite edge over the hosts.
While Jimmy Adams, the West Indies Captain considers the match against Pakistan a big challenge, the Pakistan coach Javed Miandad says, "We are well focussed on the match and will do our best with full team available."
The picturesque Arnos Vale Ground, over looking a group of 12 islands in the sea provides a breathtaking view. The two teams always being weary of each other will, however, be fully focussing on the match. Apart from who wins, the sell out crowd of the tiny island with enjoy, cricket of the highest class.
Full postLaxman, Azhar punish butter fingered Karnataka
Hyderabad had things their own way on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday
Sankhya Krishnan
11-Apr-2000
Hyderabad had things their own way on the opening day of their Ranji
Trophy semifinal against Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy stadium in
Bangalore on Tuesday. At close of play, the visitors were sitting
pretty at 344/2 after VVS Laxman (163) and Mohd. Azharuddin (103)
mercilessly punished Karnataka, with an unbroken 253 run partnership,
for an apalling display in the field that saw three catches go down
besides several shocking misfields. Laxman's seventh hundred in eight
matches this season and the 17th of his Ranji Trophy career also saw
him cross the thousand mark for the season.
Combining power with finesse, Laxman played some exquisite square
cuts, leaning back and slicing the ball past point. He was also strong
off his legs and when the ball was pitched short, he pulled with regal
authority. Both batsmen made merry on a wicket which did not give the
bowlers as much assistance as was expected.
Both sides went in with three pronged seam attacks, with Hyderabad
leaving out middle order bat D Vinay Kumar to accommodate Fiaz Ahmed,
the third seamer. The left-right combination of Daniel Manohar and
Nandakishore opened the batting but the latter did not last long as he
fell to Prasad for 11. There was a hint of outswing as the batsman
played defensively and the ball just about carried to Vijay Bharadwaj
at second slip who took a low catch to his left.
Laxman started cautiosly, taking 23 balls to get off the mark with a
disdainful pull to the square leg boundary off Mansur Ali Khan. Mansur
was unlucky when Laxman checked an intended drive and deposited the
ball in the no man's land behind the bowler's head. Hyderabad's fifty
came up in the 18th over as both batsmen played the bowling with
increasing confidence.
Full postBadani, Robin bat Tamil Nadu into position of strength
A mixture of insipid Mumbai bowling and inspired Tamil Nadu batting saw the visitors post a more than healthy 397/4 at the end of the first day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Wankhede stadium on Tuesday
Anand Vasu
11-Apr-2000
A mixture of insipid Mumbai bowling and inspired Tamil Nadu batting
saw the visitors post a more than healthy 397/4 at the end of the
first day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Wankhede stadium on
Tuesday. With both Robin Singh and Hemang Badani at the crease with
big hundreds to their names, Tamil Nadu can look forward to putting
the pressure on the Mumbai side tomorrow.
The wicket proved to have a bit of juice in it. The ball came nicely
onto the bat off the bowling of both opening speedsters. There was no
exaggerated lateral movement, but just enough nip to keep the batsmen
on their toes.
Sreedharan Sriram's golden run with the bat came to a premature end
after he had scored just two runs at the Wankhede Stadium. The
southpaw came to this match with 1063 runs from seven innings behind
him. Ajit Agakar, generating good pace, got the ball to fly past the
outside more than once before he finally had his man. Swishing at a
delivery just outside the off stump, Sriram nicked the ball through to
stumper Dighe who held the catch with ease.
S Ramesh looked good for his 44 at the crease but was run out
attempting one cheeky single too many. Ramesh was found short of his
crease by a good pick up and throw from Amol Muzumdar in the
infield. JR Madanagopal's streaky stay at the crease lasted just 12
balls. After edging one past the slips to pick up four, Madanagopal
flashed hard at a ball from Saxena without moving his feet. All he
managed to do was edge the ball to Dighe. Even Sridharan Sharath never
looked convincing at the wicket. The fall of his wicket soon after the
players returned from lunch did not come as a surprise. Hanging his
bat loosely outside off stump, Sharath edged a Powar off spinner
towards the slips. Diving low, Amol Muzumdar snatched the ball inches
from the ground and sent Sharath on his way.
Full postAkram bowls Pakistan to victory over Select XI
St John's (Antigua), April 10: Pakistan avenged their defeat of Saturday against the West Indies Select XI by gaining a marginal 14-run victory over the home team at the Antigua Recreation Ground here on Sunday
Qamar Ahmed
11-Apr-2000
St John's (Antigua), April 10: Pakistan avenged their defeat of
Saturday against the West Indies Select XI by gaining a marginal
14-run victory over the home team at the Antigua Recreation Ground
here on Sunday.
Like the Pakistan team in the first match, the West Indies Select XI
also collapsed in a similar fashion while chasing 184 to win in 50
overs.
Mohammad Akram, who took three for 27 in the first match, was once
again in good form as he picked four for 28 as the Select XI were
bowled out for 169 in the 40th over. Pakistan in their innings had
made 183 for nine after winning the toss.
The Select XI from 135 for four had plummeted to 137 for seven after
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Runako Morton seemed to have taken the grip on
the game with a stand of 70 for the fifth wicket. The two had taken
their innings from 65 for four to 135.
Full postMashonland win Logan Cup despite spirited resistance from Manicaland
It took Mashonaland until just after tea to wrap up the Logan Cup final, winning by 257 runs, after some spirited resistance at times from Manicaland, who played the game in fine spirit throughout, as indeed they have done all season
John Ward
09-Apr-2000
It took Mashonaland until just after tea to wrap up the Logan Cup
final, winning by 257 runs, after some spirited resistance at
times from Manicaland, who played the game in fine spirit
throughout, as indeed they have done all season. Neil Ferreira
and Stuart Matsikenyeri scored determined fifties, while Gavin
Rennie, who has been bowling regularly again this season after
virtually giving up his left-arm spin due to back trouble, took
seven wickets.
Mashonaland declared overnight, setting Manicaland a mere 498 to
win. Manicaland were determined not to give in weakly, but the
odds were stacked against them, despite Mashonaland's rather
apathetic attitude in the field at times. Steve Lawson this time
opened with Neil Ferreira, but had scored only 7 before popping
up a ball from Gus Mackay backward of square on the leg side, for
Everton Matambanadzo to dive and catch.
Then came a determined stand between Ferreira and Patrick Gada,
both looking secure and playing each ball on its merits until,
with the total on 51, Gada thrust his pad at a straight ball from
Gavin Rennie, misreading the arm ball completely, to be given out
lbw for 18. In the same over Hamilton Masakadza, in contrast to
his fine first-innings effort, appeared to give it away; he hit
an uppish four that just cleared short mid-on, and then pushed a
low return catch that Rennie dived to take.
Mark Burmester looked aggressive and hit some firm boundaries,
only to be given out caught off bat and pad by Mackay off Rennie
for 20. Ferreira once again held out gallantly, and just before
the interval Strang bowled to him with all nine of his fielders
on the off side. Ferreira waited for the right ball and then
tapped it away wide of mid-on and ran three.
Full postStrang sews up Logan Cup for Mashonaland
Mashonaland 345 and 275/5; Manicaland 123
John Ward
08-Apr-2000
Mashonaland 345 and 275/5; Manicaland 123.
Mashonaland have won the Logan Cup, de facto if not de jure.
After taking a first-innings lead of 222 over Manicaland, they
declined to enforce the follow-on and pointlessly added a further
275 runs before the close, leaving the visitors in a hopeless
situation.
Under sunny skies, later to cloud over, Manicaland soon found
themselves with their backs to the wall, with Bryan Strang
getting movement in the air and off the pitch. Neil Ferreira,
backbone of the Manicaland batting, scored only 8, misjudging a
ball from Strang just outside the off stump, shouldering arms and
having it nip back to hit his off stump. Strang got his next
ball to swing in from outside leg stump and trap Patrick Gada
lbw, and Manicaland were 12 for two.
Steve Lawson saved the hat-trick, but he and Hamilton Masakadza,
batting with great determination but few strokes, really
struggled for runs, and there were times when overs bowled
exceeded the runs on the board. Finally Lawson's concentration
seemed to break, as he reached for a wide ball from Anton Hoffman
outside the off stump to be caught by Campbell for 2; 19 for
three in the 23rd over, and quite a few of these were courtesy of
some sloppy Mashonaland ground fielding.
Full postBevan's brilliance not enough in Bangladesh
Despite a stunning 185-run knock by Michael Bevan, the Rest of the World XI conceded a one-run defeat to mighty Asia XI in a thrilling limited-over match at the flood-lit Bangabandhu National Stadium Saturday
Zahid Newaz
08-Apr-2000
Despite a stunning 185-run knock by Michael Bevan, the Rest of the World XI conceded a one-run defeat to mighty Asia XI in a thrilling limited-over match at the flood-lit Bangabandhu National Stadium Saturday.
Southpaw batsman Bevan, who is famed for his top class finishing ability in one-dayer, lifted the match to an exciting position making a 119-run partnership in the eight-wicket stand with Andrew Caddick.
The match was dragged to a nerve breaking moment when Rest of the Eleven needed six runs from the last delivery of the innings but they completed their fifty overs making 319 runs for eight wickets in chasing the 320 runs scored by Asia.
In the last over of their innings, Rest of the Eleven needed 20 runs which was made almost possible when Bevan hit three consecutive boundaries off Pakistani pacer Abdur Razzaq.
Full postAir India derails Indian Railways
The much awaited title clash in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi Trophy women's tournament between Air India and Indian Railways got underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this morning
Anand Vasu
08-Apr-2000
The much awaited title clash in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi Trophy
women's tournament between Air India and Indian Railways got underway
at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this morning. Both teams came into the
match unbeaten. At the end of the day however, Air India were just too
good for Indian Railways. Their 178 run total proved 48 runs too many
for Indian Railways.
On winning the toss Air India captain Purnima Rau had no hesitation in
electing to bat. However, when she played down the wrong line to a
straight one from Sunita Kanojia the skipper couldn't have been too
pleased. She was trapped plumb in front and Air India had lost a big
wicket.
Anjum Chopra came in and gave Air India fans something to cheer about
with some fine batting. Playing with a straight bat, Chopra made good
use of a field that was spread out. Taking no risks, she forced the
scoring on.
When Anjum tried to cut a ball from off spinner Rupanjali Shastri
things went wrong for Air India. The ball was too close to the stumps
for the shot. All she managed to do was drag the ball back onto her
stumps. She looked good for a big score but managed just 24.
Full postWest Zone wins a cliff hanger
Asked to make 117 for a win against probably the best of zonal teams, on the hottest day of the Cricinfo Rani Jhansi tournament Central Zone could not hold the nerve and so lost to West Zone, giving the second one run win match of the day
Ganesh Virudhagiri
08-Apr-2000
Asked to make 117 for a win against probably the best of zonal teams,
on the hottest day of the Cricinfo Rani Jhansi tournament Central Zone
could not hold the nerve and so lost to West Zone, giving the second
one run win match of the day.
U Kalyani won the toss for West Zone in their last match of the
CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament at the SRMC grounds and decided to bat
against Central Zone on a wicket that had a lot of cracks. West Zone
women were not looking very enthusiastic after their close loss to Air
India yesterday.
West Zone openers, Amrutha Shinde and Triptimani Rocue added 57 in the
first 15 overs until the latter played a poor shot at Rahul Singh only
to lose her off stump. Amrutha along with Kalyani manouvred the spin
of Rahul Singh and Varsha Raphal sensibly and took the score to 77
when the skipper ran herself out for 17. The consistent Amrutha also
followed her captain giving an easy catch to Bindeshwari at deep
square leg after making a well played 40.
Once these two players were back in the pavilion, a slide was
expected. But Aarti Vaidya, capitalising on a dropped chance by Varsha
Raphal of Bindeshwari, kept one end tight and helped her team to cross
the three figure mark. Aarti perished in the 47th over trying to step
on the accelerator.
Full postNorth go down by slenderest of margins
North choked at the death to throw away a game they should have won with ease at the CPT ground in Chennai on the final day of the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament today
Sankhya Krishnan
08-Apr-2000
North choked at the death to throw away a game they should have won
with ease at the CPT ground in Chennai on the final day of the
CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament today. Replying to South Zone's total
of 164/9, North fell agonisingly short by one run, at 163/6. The
number of wickets in hand tells the tale of how North failed to force
the pace in the final overs. A magnificent 88 run third wicket
partnership between Rajini Bhalla (56 not out) and Gurdeep Kaur (44)
took North to 137/2 in the 42nd over.
The stand was broken in the only possible way that it looked like
happening, a run out, and two more wickets fell cheaply. But with
captain Rajini Bhalla around at the crease, North were still the
favourites until the very end. Eight were needed from the last two
overs and four from the last. Seema Wadhwa just could not get the ball
away in the final over bowled by Mamtha. Two runs were needed from the
last ball and Seema was bowled to give South a consolation victory and
North a most inconsolable loss. Mamtha had done the trick for South
with a spot on last over and finished with figures of 10-3-21-3.
Raakhee Mehra and Jaya Sharma had given North the ideal start with a
49 run stand in just under 18 overs. Both were dismissed at the same
score, the latter trapped leg before by Mamtha, and the former being
pointlessly run out. Rajini and Gurdeep made the task look easy as
they kept the scoreboard moving relentlessly for the next 23 odd overs
with some clean hitting, some deflections and some edges. The bowling
held no terror as the two never looked remotely in trouble. However
both began to tire towards the end, easing up in their running between
the wickets so much so that a run out looked a distinct
possibility. After Gurdeep had obliged South, Gulshan Sharma played
out a maiden from Mamtha in the 44th over to pile the pressure on
North. Yesterday North had mocked at an asking rate of 54 runs in 60
balls to take out Central but today they baulked at a much simpler
proposition. There was a funereal atmosphere in the North camp after
the match and as their coach launched into a tirade against them you
really felt sorry for these girls who had played their heart out for
the greatest part of the contest. Cricket can be a very unforgiving
game.
Earlier a 75 run third wicket partnership between Sudha Rani and
Harsha had helped South recover from the perilous depths of 17/3 but
North hit back towards the end to peg their target down to 165. A
combination of some poor running between the wickets and some inspired
bowling by Vandna Gupta and Anjuman Bassi cost South dearly. South
came into the match with a day's rest behind them and elected to bat
after winning the toss against a rejuvenated North side playing the
same eleven that beat Central yesterday. Vanita Viola cover drove
Vandna Gupta to the boundary in the very first over. A no ball was
called in Vandna's second over for illegally employing three fielders
behind the popping crease on the leg side. Asha Jain at the other end
was bowling to an unusual 7-2 field and in the 4th over of the day,
Manjula patted a halfvolley straight back to her to fall for a duck.
Full post