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Gloucestershire v Zimbabweans, Day 4
Zimbabwe emphasised their fast-improving form on their tour of England by inflicting a record defeat on Gloucestershire in the Vodafone Challenge match at Gloucester
Mark Easterbrook
19-Jun-2000
Zimbabwe emphasised their fast-improving form on their tour of England by inflicting a record defeat on Gloucestershire in the Vodafone Challenge match at Gloucester.
The home side, who resumed on 98-4, were restricted to 135-9 in their second innings, which was effectively all out in the absence of injured captain Tim Hancock.
It meant a 524-run reverse for Gloucestershire, which was comfortably worse than their previous heaviest defeat of 470 runs by Sussex at Hove in 1913.
Pace bowler Pommie Mbangwa ensured a quick finish on the final morning. He claimed four of the last five wickets to fall and ended with an outstanding return of 5-23 from 15.5 overs.
Full postGloucestershire v Zimbabweans, Day 3
Gloucestershire are facing one of the heaviest defeats in their history after closing the third day of the Vodafone Challenge Series match with Zimbabwe in Gloucester on 98-4 in their second innings
Mark Easterbrook
18-Jun-2000
Gloucestershire are facing one of the heaviest defeats in their history after closing the third day of the Vodafone Challenge Series match with Zimbabwe in Gloucester on 98-4 in their second innings.
The tourists had earlier declined to enforce the follow on after dismissing Gloucestershire for 167 in their first innings of 568.
Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower then struck 116 not out in his side's second innings 258-2 declared, which left Gloucestershire a nominal 660 to win.
Gloucestershire's decision to rest seven first team regulars was again exposed by Zimbabwe on a day of sweltering heat at the King's School festival ground.
Full postYorkshire Phoenix v Kent Spitfires
A Craig White hat-trick won this National League match for the Yorkshire Phoenix
Neil Whitaker
18-Jun-2000
A Craig White hat-trick won this National League match for the Yorkshire Phoenix. When the Kent Spitfires started the 42nd over they required 30 from four overs and it looked like the Spitfires would win the match.
The Spitfires captain Matthew Fleming hit the first ball for a four. The next ball he tried to steer the ball over point but Michael Vaughan held on to a vital catch. In came Min Patel but he was trapped leg before to White. Next man David Masters suffered the same fate. The Spitfires who had started the over on 134 for six finished the over on 138 for nine. Paul Nixon managed to get a single off Silverwood, but the next ball the former England paceman bowled last man Kristian Adams for a duck. The Phoenix were home by 24 runs.
However it looked at one stage that the Spitfires would win this match easily. They had restricted the Phoenix to 44 for five after 12 overs. Opening bowlers Mark Ealham and Adams had taken two wickets each and the fifth was a run out, when White attempted a third run and was beaten by a throw from Fleming.
Then it was left to the left handers Byas and Gavin Hamilton to hold the Phoenix innings together which they did. They pair scored 51 in 18 overs. Hamilton had scored 21 when he was caught down the legside by Nixon off Patel. James Middebrook was the next man and with Byas put on 30 for the seventh wicket before he was stumped by Nixon off Patel.
Full postEngland v West Indies, Test 1 Day 3 - Lunch
The West Indies, through their captain, Jimmy Adams, have not only extended their overnight lead from 157, but have certainly put themselves in a position to win this 1st Test match
Colin Croft
17-Jun-2000
The West Indies, through their captain, Jimmy Adams, have not only extended their overnight lead from 157, but have certainly put themselves in a position to win this 1st Test match.
They were dismissed for 397, an overall lead of 218 over England's 1st innings of 179.
Adams was the last man out, brilliantly caught by Andy Flintoff, at short backward point, one handed to his right and very close to the ground. Adams had made 98, just short of his 7th Test hundred, in his 45 Test overall. He had batted over six and a half hours and hit nine 4's. Courtney Walsh, in his 118th Test appearance, was left 03 not out.
Earlier, Franklyn Rose, Adams's overnight partner, continued from his overnight 33 with the same flourish of the 2nd evening, with his first scoring stroke being a four through cover point from Andy Flintoff's bowling.
Full postEngland v West Indies, Test 1 Day 3 - Close
The fat lady tuned up early in the game, perhaps when the West Indies led on the 2nd day bu 157, but only started singing at 6:15pm on the 3rd afternoon, for it was then that the West Indies won their 1st Test match away from home since February
Colin Croft
17-Jun-2000
The fat lady tuned up early in the game, perhaps when the West Indies led on the 2nd day bu 157, but only started singing at 6:15pm on the 3rd afternoon, for it was then that the West Indies won their 1st Test match away from home since February 1997, when they beat Australia at Perth.
Reon King, who had had a poor match so far, came into his own after tea on Day 3. After being dispatched for 04 by Andy Flintoff, King immediately bowled Flintoff with a tremendously quick off-cutter that kept a bit low. Flintoff had made 12 aggressive runs but was not good enough to last long enough; England 78-6 in over 29.
Wavell Hinds then took a "blinder", a wonderful reflex catch at forward short leg, from Robert Croft's bat, off the bowling of King. Croft had made only 1; England 83-7.
Andy Caddick went the same way, caught at short-leg by Hinds from Rose's bowling this time, a much easier catch, but a controversial one. Like the catch to dismiss Jimmy Adams earlier in the day, television replays left doubt as to whether the catch was correctly taken. Caddick out for 4; England 94-8.
Full postEngland sent crashing to defeat
The gloomiest prognosis for the rest of this series must have England being systematically out-played and heading toward an overwhelming defeat
Andy Jalil
17-Jun-2000
The gloomiest prognosis for the rest of this series must have England being systematically out-played and heading toward an overwhelming defeat. On the evidence of their thoroughly inadequate showing here, it is apparent that England must find a way to lift their game considerably, only to be able to provide the tourists with some sort of a contest.
The lack of real strength in both the main areas of England's cricket has been made very clear at the very outset of the main series of the summer (with due respect to Zimbabwe.)
At the risk of sounding almost repetitive, one has to applaud the cricket played by West Indies for the third consecutive day. Another thoroughly professional performance condemned England to defeat which had loomed from the first day when Courtney Walsh rampaged through England's top order.
What must concern England is the fact that they have not been a match for the opposition owing to their own inept batting, in particular, and not because the Edgbaston pitch has had much of a say. It is true that they had the misfortune of being put in to bat on the first morning when there was some moisture in the pitch and West Indies had their turn with the bat late in the day. But what possible excuse can there be for their appalling second innings on the pitch which produced nearly four hundred runs for their opponents.
Full postWindies on top
Birmingham- The all-for-one, one-for-all team ethic that has been the most heartening aspect of Jimmy Adams' leadership was obvious again as the West Indies batted their way into a powerful position on the second day of the first Test yesterday
Tony Cozier
17-Jun-2000
Birmingham- The all-for-one, one-for-all team ethic that has been the
most heartening aspect of Jimmy Adams' leadership was obvious again as
the West Indies batted their way into a powerful position on the
second day of the first Test yesterday.
It was built around four partnerships, the basis for any significant
total. Adams was involved in three himself and was still unbeaten on
66 at the close after four hours 35 minutes of typical application.
His team was 336 for seven, ahead by 157 with more to add on a pitch
already inclined towards unpredictable bounce. It was a daunting
equation for England to ponder.
The West Indies overnight pair, Brian Lara and Sherwin Campbell,
extended their third-wicket partnership to 99, both completing their
half-centuries, before they were dismissed by Darren Gough within 13
runs of each other shortly before lunch.
Full postEngland v West Indies, Test 1 Day 3 - Tea
The period between lunch and tea brought new headaches for England
Colin Croft
17-Jun-2000
The period between lunch and tea brought new headaches for England. After dismissing the West Indies for 387 just before lunch, a handsome lead of 218, England at tea on Day 3, are 71-5, with Andy Flintoff on 08 not out and Nick Knight also on 08 not out. 27 overs have been bowled so far in this 2nd innings.
It has been all chaos for England. In the 2nd over, without a run on the scoreboard, Courtney Walsh bowled a wonderful off-cutter to Mark Ramprakash which caught the batsman in no-man's land. Ramprakash LBW for 00; England 0-1.
England's captain then had two half-lives before he was eventually out, caught at the wicket edging a good Courtney Walsh leg-cutter to Ridley Jacobs. Before that, he had offerred a sharp chance to Brian Lara at 1st slip, off Curtly Ambrose, the resulting boundary getting Houssein off the mark. Reon King at mid-wicket then failed to take a regulation catch from Walsh's bowling, the missed chance going again to the boundary before Hussain was eventually out for 08; England 14-2.
Almost immediately, that became 14-3 as Graham Hick fanned at a Walsh leg-cutter, the resulting edge taken by wicket-keeper Jacobs. Hick stood his ground in astonishment of the decision before trooping off to the dressing room, out for 00, his 2nd of the game.
Full postGloucestershire v Zimbabweans, Day 2
Zimbabwe strengthened their hold on the Vodafone Challenge match with Gloucestershire when they reduced the home side to 146-7 at the close of the second day's play in reply to their 568
17-Jun-2000
Zimbabwe strengthened their hold on the Vodafone Challenge match with Gloucestershire when they reduced the home side to 146-7 at the close of the second day's play in reply to their 568.
And Gloucestershire's disappointment was compounded by an injury to opener and acting captain Tim Hancock, who fractured a knuckle on his left hand during fielding practice in the morning.
Hancock will play no further part in this match and will be sidelined for at least three weeks.
Hancock has been a key performer during Gloucestershire's surge to three one-day trophies in the last year and the county must now start their defence of the NatWest Trophy against Worcestershire on Wednesday without him.
Full postGloucestershire v Zimbabweans, Day 1
Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin took advantage of a weakened Gloucestershire attack to post a career-best 194 on the opening day of the Vodafone Challenge Series match at Gloucester
16-Jun-2000
Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin took advantage of a weakened Gloucestershire attack to post a career-best 194 on the opening day of the Vodafone Challenge Series match at Gloucester.
The home county decided to rest seven of the side which won them the Benson and Hedges at Lord's last weekend, and they struggled for penetration on a placid festival wicket.
Goodwin, a century maker against England at Trent Bridge earlier this month, showed why he has a Test average of just over 40 with some magnificent strokeplay.
He struck a six over midwicket off Tom Cotterell's left-arm spin and hit 30 fours in his 238-ball innings, the majority of which were cut or driven crisply through the offside.
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