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Old Trafford preview
The usual cloudy skies greeted the teams at Old Trafford, and by the start the ground was only about half-full
John Ward
13-Jul-2000
The usual cloudy skies greeted the teams at Old Trafford, and by the start
the ground was only about half-full. This is a crucial match for England,
who have a chance to steal a march on West Indies if they beat Zimbabwe for
the first time in the tournament.
Both teams have only one point to date from the abandoned match between them, while Zimbabwe have all but clinched their place in the final with their six points from three victories out of three. An England victory today would be a major boost in their efforts to become the other finalists in their home country.
Zimbabwe retained the team that beat West Indies at Canterbury two days ago, although their squad has been strengthened by the arrival of swing bowler John Rennie to replace the injured Henry Olonga. England made one change, bringing back Andy Flintoff, despite doubts about his fitness and morale, in place of Robert Croft.
Full postPressure of pace cracks Zimbabwe
Superb English bowling, especially by the second line of Mullally and Ealham, caused Zimbabwe to crack under the pressure at Old Trafford
John Ward
13-Jul-2000
Old Trafford, 30 overs: Zimbabwe 74 for six (A Flower 6, Carlisle 5)
Superb English bowling, especially by the second line of Mullally and Ealham, caused Zimbabwe to crack under the pressure at Old Trafford. Four wickets fell for only 27 runs as the tourists reverted to familiar mode after their three successive victories.
Johnson was soon peppering the covers with his trademark drives, while Whittall enjoyed a narrow escape when he slashed Gough just over the slips for four. Johnson (7) was less fortunate, though, when he flashed at Caddick in the third over and edged a catch to the keeper Stewart; 14 for one.
Full postEngland make light work in wintry weather
In conditions that were more akin to the ninety-minute game at that other part of Old Trafford, Zimbabwe decided to make first use of a pitch which showed a sparse scattering of grass and then decided to register their lowest score against England
Andy Jalil
13-Jul-2000
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Alan Mullally makes his mark Photo © CricInfo |
Zimbabwe find good for ducks
In conditions that were more akin to the ninety-minute game at that other part of Old Trafford, Zimbabwe decided to make first use of a pitch which showed a sparse scattering of grass and then decided to register their lowest score against England.
England Triumph
Old Trafford, close of play: Zimbabwe (114 off 38.3 overs) lost to England (115 for two off 20.3 overs) by eight wickets
John Ward
13-Jul-2000
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Flintoff - a weighty performance for England Photo © AllSport |
Zimbabwe bubble of confidence pricked
Old Trafford, close of play: Zimbabwe (114 off 38.3 overs) lost to England
(115 for two off 20.3 overs) by eight wickets.
Battling Smith blunts Durham break-through
Ben Smith's patience brought Leicestershire through an awkward day against Durham's competent pace attack led by John Wood (5-60) on a pitch unfavourable to batting in their championship at Leicester
Staff and agencies
12-Jul-2000
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Ben Smith - first century of the summer Photo © AllSport |
Ben Smith's patience brought Leicestershire through an awkward day against
Durham's competent pace attack led by John Wood (5-60) on a pitch unfavourable to batting in their championship at Leicester. The hosts' innings ended at 222. Smith (111 n.o.), his fourteenth century, was tested by the unpredictable bounce and movement off the seam but attained his first championship half-century of the season.
He contributed exactly half of his county's total, a tribute to his courage and tenacity. And Leicestershire certainly needed somebody of his combativeness for, coming from a hammering by Surrey, Leicestershire lost two batsmen without a run on the board after the first two overs - Darren Maddy was caught at the wicket and Iain Sutcliffe played a short ball into his stumps. Skipper Vince
Wells, another early victim, would have doubted his own wisdom in batting
first.
Full postAtherton's first championship century for nearly a year
Mike Atherton's first County Championship century for almost a year was a predictable blend of textbook defence and careful shot selection
Richard Latham
12-Jul-2000
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Mike Atherton - his first century in almost a year alone is a match for Parsons Photo © CricInfo |
Mike Atherton's first County Championship century for almost a year was a predictable blend of textbook defence and careful shot selection. Keith Parsons' first five-wicket haul of the season came from just 7.5 overs and was far more difficult to forecast.
The two outstanding individual performances dominated a rain-interrupted, yet fascinating opening day at Taunton, which saw Lancashire bowled out for 239 after losing the toss and Somerset reply confidently with 48-0. While Atherton's 51st first class hundred rolled smoothly off the production line, Parsons' 5-13 lifted a season which had previously seen him take 1-214 from 71.5 overs.
Full postKent keep Derbyshire down
Derbyshire, who failed to garner even one batting point, lost ground to Kent, fellow-strugglers in the First Division, in their championship match at Derby
Staff and agencies
12-Jul-2000
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Martin Saggers - used seam to unpick Derbyshire batting Photo © AllSport |
Derbyshire, who failed to garner even one batting point, lost ground to Kent,
fellow-strugglers in the First Division, in their championship match at Derby. They fell to Martin Saggers, using the seam to good advantage, at the beginning of the innings and David Masters taking three wickets in three overs at the close.
With half-centuries in two consecutive championship matches Steve Stubbings and Dominic Cork provided the only resistance in an otherwise inadequate batting performance. Derbyshire began unconvincingly against Saggers, who dismissed Stephen Titchard and Michael Di Venuto in the first four overs, and first-class debutant Ben Trott as the ball moved around.
Full postWorcestershire batsmen make slow but steady progress
Worcestershire, having chosen to bat first, laboured through the first day but thanks to a century opening partnership between Elliott Wilson and Philip Weston laid the platform for a sizeable first innings total
Dave Bracegirdle
12-Jul-2000
Worcestershire, having chosen to bat first, laboured through the first day but thanks to a century opening partnership between Elliott Wilson and Philip Weston laid the platform for a sizeable first innings total. Four late wickets will give Notts hope of dismissing the home county on the second morning though when Worcs will resume on 248-5.
91-0 at lunch, both Weston and Wilson passed their half centuries shortly afterwards but were parted when Paul Reiffel induced Weston to nick the ball through to Chris Read.
Wilson maintained a watchful vigil, often his score was less than the number of overs bowled, but he had ground his way to 74 not out by tea. In gloomy, overcast conditions after the break he played a supporting role as Paul Pollard, tried to be the aggressor with his highest Championship score since May last year.
Full postTremlett's talent - it's in the blood
Teenager Chris Tremlett's talent runs in the blood
Staff and agencies
12-Jul-2000
Teenager Chris Tremlett's talent runs in the blood. His father, Tim, is the
Hampshire coach, and grandfather, Maurice, played for England. And the young man has ability of his own, which he showed by dismissing New Zealand A opening batsman Mark Richardson with his first delivery in first-class cricket for Hampshire at Portsmouth.
The batsman had been averaging almost 92 but here he pushed the ball into the hands of John Stephenson at short-leg. Tremlett, 18 years old and 6 ft 6 in tall, showed that the dismissal was no fluke as he also bowled Jarrod Englefield to end his first six overs spell with 2-8. The visitors recovered to be 87-3 at the close following Hampshire's innings of 204 thanks mainly to James Marshall (39 n.o.).
Tremlett and wicketkeeper Iain Brunnschweiler were included in place of county captain Robin Smith and star spinner Shane Warne. Hampshire, themselves, were in early trouble after having been put in to bat and stood at 29-3 against some lively pace bowling by Lance Hamilton. He had put out Giles White and Will Kendall but then Jason Laney and Derek Kenway affected a more spirited reply by putting on 66 runs for the third wicket. Hamilton (4-49) dismissed Laney when he was still one short of fifty.
Full postWorcestershire openers frustrate Notts
Nottinghamshire endured a frustrating morning on the opening day of their County Championship match against Worcestershire at New Road
Dave Bracegirdle
12-Jul-2000
Nottinghamshire endured a frustrating morning on the opening day of their County Championship match against Worcestershire at New Road. In overcast conditions Worcester's captain Stephen Rhodes won the toss and elected to bat first and by lunch their openers were still together and had had progressed to 91 without loss.
Notts made two changes from the side which completed the match against Essex. David Millns, who has missed a total of five matches with a pulled hamstring, returned at the expense of David Lucas and Stephen Randall lost the spinner's berth to Richard Stemp.
Worcestershire were unchanged and still handicapped by the absence of Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki, on England duty, and Richard Illingworth who is injured. Ex-Notts man Paul Pollard was included in the line-up, having missed last month's match at Trent Bridge which his side won by 106 runs.
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