Report

Klusener, Boje star in South African triumph

The third match of the Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah produced the first reasonably close finish of the tournament

24-Mar-2000

The third match of the Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah produced the first reasonably close finish of the tournament. Batting first, the Pakistanis could muster only 196. This too, thanks mainly to a 71 from Imran Nazir at the top of the order. The youngster showed tremendous composure and ability, but was not supported by anyone other than Younis Khan. Against a strong batting side like South Africa, 196 was never going to be enough. As it turned out, South Africa came through with 3 wickets to spare despite a spirited bowling performance from Pakistan.

Lance Klusener was the wrecker in chief for the South Africans picking up 5/47 off his 10 overs.

Injury kept both Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar out of the game. This meant that the mantle of number one fast bowler fell on Waqar Younis. Picking up the gauntlet admirably, Waqar produced a tight opening spell, squeezing the South Africans with some quality fast bowling. His rhythm was good and he was rewarded with two quick wickets. However, the second string of Pakistani bowlers could not quite keep things as tight. Off spinner Arshad Khan was the only other bowler who made things difficult for the South Africans. Bowling his off spinners extremely slowly, Arshad Khan made it difficult for the South Africans to get him away for runs. He ended with pickings of 2/34 off his 10 overs.

In the end, the South Africans had just enough firepower to get past the Pakistanis. Needing just under 45 overs to get past the total, the South Africans displayed a cool temperament through the innings. Just when the pressure seemed to be building up, Nicky Boje and Mark Boucher turned on the heat. It was once again a case of not having enough runs on the board that caused the downfall of the team batting first.

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Punjab women take third place

Punjab won the third place play-off match against Bihar by three wickets in the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship at the Gymkhana Ground at Jorhat on Friday

24-Mar-2000

Punjab won the third place play-off match against Bihar by three wickets in the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship at the Gymkhana Ground at Jorhat on Friday.

Set to get a meagre 76 for victory, Punjab had a shaky start when they lost opener Gulshan (0) with only one run on the board. Then Punjab were in even more trouble when three more wickets fell with the score at 25. But Aneta Thapa (14) and Sandeep (11) added 33 runs off 17.1 overs for the fifth wicket. This inched Punjab closer to their target, which they reached in 38.2 overs for the loss of only seven wickets.

Earlier, put into bat, Bihar were all out for 75 in 39.1 overs. The batting was a fair disaster and only two players Piyali Moitra (11) and Kavita Roy (12) reached double figures. The total was inflated by as many as 24 extras. Parvesh Sharma was the most successful bowler with three for 13 while Anjali Sharma and Sandeep took two wickets for 13 and 12 respectively.

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Anju Jain's unbeaten century steers Air India into final

Powered by an unbeaten 140 by opener Anju Jain, Air India defeated Bihar convincingly by eight wickets in the semifinals of the CricInfo Trophy Women's Senior National Cricket Championship at the Jorhat Stadium in Jorhat on Wednesday

23-Mar-2000

Set to get 247 for victory, Air India were given an excellent start with openers Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra putting on 196 runs in 35.2 overs. While Anjum was out for 87, compiled off 165 balls and inclusive of eleven hits to the ropes, Anju Jain remained unbeaten with 140 off 196 balls. Air India had virtually clinched the issue by the time the first wicket fell. Then Anju Jain and Smitha Harikrishna (6) added 23 runs for the second wicket in 25 overs. With Anju Jain quite unstoppable, Air India were home in 72 overs.

Air India, last year's runners-up now meet holders Railways in a repeat final. The three day final, which will be played on 90 overs (first innings) and 45 overs (second innings) basis commences from Saturday.

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Indian middle order is strong, but can be brittle at times

The psychological advantage the Indians had over the South Africans was annulled ruthlessly by the Springboks in the lung opener of the Coca-Cola Championship at Sharjah

Woorkheri Raman

23-Mar-2000

The psychological advantage the Indians had over the South Africans was annulled ruthlessly by the Springboks in the lung opener of the Coca-Cola Championship at Sharjah. The only positive thing for the Indians was Ganguly winning the toss. After that it was a sort of a nightmare with wickets falling like nine pins on a placid pitch. The South Africans never let go of the initiative after breaking through early in the innings.

Pollock beat Tendulkar with an inswinger to castle the little master and not many would have thought that that was beginning of the end for the Indians. Ganguly started off well before Kallis accounted for him and with Dravid perishing early, the Indians were straight away looking down the barrel. The idea of once again promoting Joshi is debatable but he did what he was sent out for by smashing a few quick runs. The Indian middle order is strong, yet at the same time can be brittle at times.

The middle collapse started with the dismissal of the most experienced campaigner Azharuddin, who played a loose shot. Elworthy and Ntini, sensing that there was a good chance of running through the Indian line-up, bowled with magnificent discipline. Ntini stuck to a line just outside the off stump while Elworthy bowled straight to pick up his wickets. Elworthy trapped Robin Singh and shortly after that Karim chopped one on to his stumps. Jadeja was left to bat with the lower order batsman and he tried his best to achieve some respectability to the Indian total.

He looked well and truly in control throughout his innings and finally it was Srinath who spent some time with him at the crease. The last wicket partnership took the Indians past the 150 mark and in the end the Indians were a million runs short to make a match out of it. Cronje would have hardly expected the Indians to crumble as they did and quite naturally he would not complain about it either. His bowlers did a fantastic job under trying conditions and the reputed Indian batsmen have only themselves to blame.

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India limp to victory after Pakistani collapse

When India and Pakistan clash, the match is usually hard fought

Anand Vasu

23-Mar-2000

When India and Pakistan clash, the match is usually hard fought. Today was one of those days when the Pakistani top order collapsed and gave their bowlers almost nothing to bowl at. On winning the toss, Moin Khan chose to bat first. A decision that his team did not back. In scoring just 146, they gave India the upper hand in the match by the time the first innings was done.

More than good bowling on the part of the Indians, it was some loose batting by the Pakistanis that decided the game.

The opinion that the Pakistani top order is brittle was vindicated by a shocking start by the Pakistanis. Venkatesh Prasad who was drafted into the side to replace the injured Javagal Srinath was in the action immediately. Off the very first ball he bowled, Shahid Afridi played a typically loose shot, edging the ball to slip. Prasad put the ball in the slot just outside off stump. The ball was a bit short and probably not of driving length. Afridi however had no hesitation in giving it the full treatment, and that too without any movement of the feet. The ball flew of the edge towards the safe hands of Mohammed Azhauddin at slip. Diving low, Azhar snapped up the catch, leaving Pakistan in a sticky situation at 1/1.

Abdur Razzaq, who batted at one drop for the Pakistanis in the World Cup in England, came in at the fall of Afridi's wicket. He approached batting in a more conventional way than Afridi, but not necessarily with more success. Undone by a Ajit Agarkar slower ball, Razzaq checked a cover drive a second too late. The ball went straight to Ajay Jadeja at covers who pouched the catch with ease.

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Deepa stars in Railways' comfortable victory

23-Mar-2000

Displaying all round efficiency, holders Indian Railways thrashed Punjab by nine wickets in the semifinals of the Cricinfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship at the Gymkhana Ground in Jorhat on Wednesday. Railways' superiority was so marked that they wrapped up the 90 overs a side two day semifinal on the first day itself.

Having to score 85 for an entry into the title round, Railways reached the target in 29.2 overs. The only player to be dismissed was Hemalatha Kala who scored eight in a total of 18. But opener Rajani Sharma (33 not out off 44 balls) and Rajini Venugopal (39 not out off 56 balls) added 67 runs for the unbroken second wicket off 24.2 overs to help Railways reach the target comfortably.

Earlier, electing to bat, Punjab were all out for 84 runs in 57.5 overs. Punjab started disastrously, losing four of its top order batswomen with only 38 runs scored. They then lost wickets at regular intervals. Only Gulshan (25), Anjali Sharma (25) and Rajani Bhalla (12) reached double figures for Punjab. Deepa Kulkarni was quite devasatating in picking up five wickets for three runs in 8.5 overs as she wiped out the Punjab tail.

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Geeta hits 88 for Bihar

Geeta Samantharay scored a fine 88 to help Bihar score 246 against last year's runners-up Air India at the end of the first day in the semifinal of the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship at the Jorhat Stadium in Jorhat on

23-Mar-2000

Electing to bat, Bihar got off to a sedate start with openers Neetu Singh (37 runs of 70 balls) and Kamini Kumari (10) putting on 30 runs off 13.1 overs. Then Geeta, who got her runs off 99 balls with 17 fours and one six and Neetu Singh increased the score by 59 runs during a second wicket association that lasted 13.4 overs. This was followed by a fourth wicket stand of 48 runs off 12.1 overs between Geeta and Seema Desai (49 runs off 91 balls with five fours).

Even after Geeta's dismissal, the innings was kept going by a fifth wicket partnership of 33 runs in 12.1 overs between Piyali Moitra (6) and Seema Desai and an eighth wicket stand of 36 runs off 20 overs between Gargi De (3 runs off 87 balls) and Babusha (31 runs off 75 balls). Usha Bogada (3 for 60) and Poornima Rau (3 for 64) were the pick of the Air India bowlers.

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Gulshan stars in Punjab's win over Bengal

Punjab defeated Bengal by eight wickets in the CricInfo Trophy women's National Cricket Championship at the JDSA Ground in Jorhat on Tuesday

22-Mar-2000

Punjab defeated Bengal by eight wickets in the CricInfo Trophy women's National Cricket Championship at the JDSA Ground in Jorhat on Tuesday.

Punjab, powered by a fine innings of 98 not out in 102 balls by Gulshan, reached the victory target of 170 in 35.3 overs. Though Gulshan lost Anjuman Bassi (8) at 31 in the seventh over, she sealed the match for Punjab with a 119-run second wicket stand in 29 overs with Gurdeep Kaur (24). Then Anjali Sharma (8) joined Gulshan to guide Punjab home in the 36th over.

Earlier, electing to bat, Bengal openers Anaya Mitra (11) and Seema Bhowmick (13) put on 28 runs in eight overs. But then they lost some quick wickets and were 56 for 3 in 19.3 overs. However Chandrabati Pall (36) and Rumeli Dhar (43) added 73 runs in 12.5 overs for the fourth wicket. Jhulan Goswami (19) then joined Chandrabati in a fifth wicket partnership worth 31 runs in 5.4 overs. But after that, there was little substance in the Bengal innings and they were all out for 169 in 45.2 overs.

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Sydney Grade: Bankstown on track for title

The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs kept their premiership aspirations alive with a convincing display in the drawn playoff last weekend

Bankstown-Canterbury Cricket Club

22-Mar-2000

First Grade: Bankstown on Track for Title

The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs kept their premiership aspirations alive with a convincing display in the drawn playoff last weekend. Bankstown will now progress to the semi final and take on Balmain at Bankstown Oval next Saturday and Sunday at 10.30 a.m.

This is the seventh season in succession that the first grade side has made the semis and they certainly are a great credit to the district. Hopefully they will have the Belvidere Cup to show to Bulldog supremo Steve Waugh and his majestic brother Mark when they return from their successful tour of New Zealand.

The 'Dogs quest for victory was thwarted by a savage storm last Sunday which washed out play at 5.29 with Bankstown just one wicket short of victory as Northern Districts hung on grimly at 9-287. A glorious 100 from prolific rungetter Vaughan Williams spearheaded the 'Dogs to a massive total of 330 after Kevin Roberts had won the toss on Saturday and elected to bat in sweltering conditions.

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Railways thrash UP, enter semifinals

Holders Indian Railways thrashed Uttar Pradesh by 116 runs to enter the semifinals in the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship in Jorhat on Tuesday

22-Mar-2000

Holders Indian Railways thrashed Uttar Pradesh by 116 runs to enter the semifinals in the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship in Jorhat on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 178 for victory, UP were bundled out for a paltry score of 61 in 28 overs. Railways' Renu Margaret (3 for 18), Rupapanjali Shastri (3 for 12), and Sunita Kanojia (2 for 16) ensured a facile win for Railways.

Earlier, batting first Railways got of to a good start with all the four top order batswomen among the runs. Railways totalled 177 for the loss of only four wickets with useful contributions from Megha (29), Balbir Kaur (32), Ranjini Venugopal (39) and Reshma Gandhi (30).

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