Report
Total washout in Pakistan practice game
Pakistan's one and only practice match was eventually abandoned after discussion between the two captains
Charlie Austin
11-Jun-2000
Pakistan's one and only practice match was eventually abandoned after discussion between the two captains. Despite a break in the monsoon rains, which would have allowed some play in the afternoon, the Pakistan opted for a game of football followed by a practice session on the square.
The players didn't appear to be too disappointed by the washout of the game and are probably glad to have an opportunity to rest after such a congested and tiring schedule in the past few months.
With the BCCSL elections dominating the Sri Lankan cricket at the moment the Pakistan cricketers have been able to relax away from the limelight. They will be waiting with interest to see the Sri Lankan team, which is to be announced tomorrow morning.
The team has been selected by an entirely different selection committee and is expected to include Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva. The selectors will be announcing a squad of sixteen players, all of whom will leave their homes and booking into the team hotel tomorrow.
Full postGloucestershire make it three in a row at Lord's
Gloucestershire completed a unique achievement in winning the Benson and Hedges Final
Andy Jalil
10-Jun-2000
Gloucestershire completed a unique achievement in winning the Benson and
Hedges Final. It made them the only team to win three successive show-piece
finals. Their victory today over Glamorgan, by the comfortable margin of
seven wickets followed their double last year when they won both the Benson
and Hedges Super Cup, beating Yorkshire and the NatWest Trophy defeating
Somerset.
Their victory today was a result of a joint team effort with all five batsmen
who came to the crease contributing substantially to the winning total after
their bowlers earlier had made scoring look a laborious task for the Welsh
county's batsmen with the exception of the man of the match Matthew Maynard.
In chasing 226, Gloucestershire, who were earlier obliged to field first on a
beautiful sunny morning at Lord's, making a distinct change from the dismal
conditions so far this summer, were rarely extended.
The opening pair, Tim Hancock and Kim Barnett, who turns 40 next month and may well have played his last Lord's final, gave a fine start, putting on 80 of which the veteran batsman had 39. The second wicket fell on 118 but Hancock in the meantime progressed well, playing with caution but not missing an opportunity to score.
Full postRain prevents play on first day of the tour
The torrential rains that have drenched Colombo in the last few days have prevented any play on the first day of Pakistan's tour
Charlie Austin
10-Jun-2000
The torrential rains that have drenched Colombo in the last few days have prevented any play on the first day of Pakistan's tour. The gloomy whether was however unable to dampen the spirits of the Pakistan players who were in a jovial mood today. Perhaps still elated after their triumph in Dhaka they arrived early in the morning, disappeared for some indoor practice before returning for a spot lunch and a gentle sing song. This was ended when the umpires eventually called it a day at 12.20pm.
The rain continues to fall at Police Club Sports Club and the hardworking groundsmen have now retired to their huts, content that they have finally finished their work for the day. The staff here at were only given only 24 hours notice to prepare the wicket after plans to play at Moratuwa were hastily abandoned, due to the state funeral of the late Minister C.V. Gooneratne today.
The players are due to return tomorrow, but for what no-one is quite sure. If play is possible then the one days play would represent nothing more than a glorified net. There is a possibility of a one day match, but considering the overpowering frequency with which Pakistan play ODI's one doubts their enthusiasm for such a meaningless exercise.
The Sri Lanka players in the BCCSL side have now missed an opportunity to impress the selectors before tonight's selection meeting, which is expected to name Arjuna Ranatunga in the team for Sri Lanka's historic test match at the SSC on Wednesday.
Full postThree in a row as Gloucestershire take B&H Cup
Somewhere, W.G
Sean Beynon
10-Jun-2000
Somewhere, W.G. Grace is smiling. Gloucestershire have been transformed from a weak, unfashionable county to the premier force in one day cricket. The team famously described by the `elite' in the England side as `Minor Counties West,' are alive and kicking, very, very hard. The current Gloucester team boasts neither Jessop or W.G., nor Hammond or Walsh, but it was with a fantastic team effort from a spirited county that they crushed Glamorgan by seven wickets to lift the Benson and Hedges Cup.
The victory was Gloucestershire's third consecutive win in a Lord's showpiece final, an unprecedented feat. The west-country county beat Yorkshire in the Super Cup Final, and Somerset in the Natwest Final last year, the most successful in the club's history. Having sealed a win yesterday, they have won three of their five trophies in less than twelve months.
Few thought that it would be so easy yesterday. An estimated 11,000 Welshmen had journeyed to the capital to support Glamorgan. A groan went through the ranks of Gloucestershire supporters when the news came that Glamorgan had won the toss, choosing to bat. In the past few years, Gloucestershire have struggled to chase runs, preferring to unleash their seamers having scored a
mid-range total. Glamorgan too, have a propensity to collapse under pressure, so would have been delighted to secure first knock on a cracking looking pitch.
Robert Croft and Matthew Elliott opened up for Glamorgan, on a glorious sunny day, but soon both were back in the pavilion. Croft, batting obscenely out of his crease, trying to combat the seam of Ian Harvey, hit a leading edge, brilliantly caught by Jon Lewis at mid-off. An ecstatic Harvey picked up the wicket of his Victoria buddy Elliott, flattening the left-hander's leg stump. New man Mike Powell struggled initially, struck several times in the box and on the finger by Smith, who was mixing mediocrity with brilliance to provide an interesting cocktail.
Full postSomerset v Kent, Day 4
Kent skipper Matthew Fleming paid glowing tribute to Andrew Caddick after his side's two-wicket County Championship defeat by Somerset at Bath
09-Jun-2000
Kent skipper Matthew Fleming paid glowing tribute to Andrew Caddick after his side's two-wicket County Championship defeat by Somerset at Bath.
Fleming said: "I can't fault the way we played. We battled from start to finish and there were some good performances, but Caddick was the difference between the sides."
Not content with match figures of 10-97, the England pace bowler produced an equally valuable contribution with the bat after coming in with Somerset struggling on 152-8, needing a further 38 to win.
Caddick had the confidence to counter-attack, sweeping left-arm spinner Min Patel for a big six over mid-wicket, to give one final twist to a compelling match.
Full postThe Sussex Varsity Cricket Match
Sussex University overcame three over reducing rain breaks to ultimately triumph in this inaugural Varsity Cricket match at the Saffrons
Oxfam
09-Jun-2000
Sussex University overcame three over reducing rain breaks to ultimately triumph in this inaugural Varsity Cricket match at the Saffrons. Not helped by having their overs reduced on three separate occasions, Sussex were restricted early on by the combination of tight bowling from the impressive Matt Bibby and Dave Lester plus some athletic fielding from the infield.
Sussex University took a while to show their pedigree until Robert Crufts arrived at the crease. Crufts and skipper Awais Asif found the required momentum and the last 10 overs yielded 68 runs, however, it still looked a meagre total whilst Brighton's opening partnership of Geoff Raggett and Ben Hudson were at the crease.
At 86-0 off 17 overs, the game was apparently won, however, a hostile spell from Ollie Wills changed the game completely as he cleaned bowled both openers and sped through the defences of the middle order. Reduced to 106-7 in a mere seven overs the game was up save for some lusty blows from Bibby.
With Ollie Wills the unanimous choice as The Atlantis Man of The Match Award, the event sponsors handed over the trophy to Sussex's delighted captain Awais Asif. Once again the cricket was good the weather and crowds not.
Full postHampshire Second lose opening match at new Nursery Ground
Hampshire born Billy Taylor "The one that got away" demolished the Hampshire batting with 7-39 to send the Second XI to an Innings defeat in the first match at the Hampshire Rose Bowl
Vic Isaacs
09-Jun-2000
Hampshire born Billy Taylor "The one that got away" demolished the Hampshire batting with 7-39 to send the Second XI to an Innings defeat in the first match at the Hampshire Rose Bowl.
Resuming overnight at 102-4, after rain had held up the match until mid-afternoon, Hampshire lost their last 6 wickets for a paltry 26 runs.
The match watched over the four days by good crowds of 2-300, proved that Groundsman Nigel Gray's hard efforts over four years passed the wicket test, with players umpires and officials all praising his efforts.
Hampshire next test is when Hampshire 2ndXI take on their Glamorgan counterparts on 23-23 June, at the main cricket oval. Although the pavilion and cricket academy is still being built, the teams will use the nursery pavilion to change and a marquee will be set up for scorers and players.
Full postGloucestershire v Essex, County Championship, Day 3 of 4
Nasser Hussain still finds run eluding him but he shared the joy of his Essex team as they thrashed Gloucestershire by 109 runs at Bristol
08-Jun-2000
Nasser Hussain still finds run eluding him but he shared the joy of his Essex team as they thrashed Gloucestershire by 109 runs at Bristol.
On a wicket where the bounce became more variable as the third day wore on they shot the home side out for 85 in two and a quarter hours.
If it shook Gloucestershire almost on the eve of their Benson & Hedges Cup final with Glamorgan at Lord's the win, the second in succession, was no surprise to Essex's Ronnie Irani.
"With the new ball we could end it in the evening session and when the early wickets fell we knew we would even without claiming the extra half hour" he said.
Full post97 all out: Windies face Welsh humiliation
Another dreadful batting performance from the West Indies will see them looking down the barrel of a possible, but by no means certain, defeat against Glamorgan
Sean Beynon
08-Jun-2000
Another dreadful batting performance from the West Indies will see them looking
down the barrel of a possible, but by no means certain, defeat against
Glamorgan. The WIndies were skittled for 97 on a turning pitch, leaving
Glamorgan 134 runs to win the match tomorrow.
Hansie Cronje believes he was led by Satan when he accepted money from an Indian
bookmaker. Quite what Brian Lara is being led by at the moment is much more
puzzling. Lara appeared to have left his white stick and guide dog at home
yesterday, beginning his knock with a perfectly timed cover drive. He sauntered
down the wicket and over the top, two flashes of genius, but this was not the
Lara we have got to know. He laboured somewhat over his 11 runs, lasting out 32
balls, before Croft nabbed him for the second time in the game, padding up to a
ball which, on reflection, would have probably passed by the off-stump.
Lara may have been unfortunate, but the rest of the West Indians were lazy, a
poor attempt to combat a difficult pitch. Sherwin Campbell was well caught by
Wharf, from his own bowling, after the right-hander mis-judged a pull, the ball
not coming quickly onto the bat. Hinds miscued a slash, caught at mid-on. Chris
Gayle was trapped plumb in front by Wharf, his bat some way behind his pad, a
poor judgement.
With Lara gone, the score was 20-4, and some direct action was needed. It came,
albeit too briefly, in the form of Ridley Jacobs, who crashed six boundaries in
his 43. Adams long vigil was ended by Wharf, who also picked up the wicket of
Nagamootoo, for a less than elegant duck. The end came fairly swiftly, despite
some clean hitting from McLean. Wayne Phillip was well held at silly point, a
reaction catch from Mike Powell, who had replaced Wayne Law close in on the offside. Whilst Powell looked ready for a catch, Law cowered comically every time
the striker raised his blade. With Parkin and Croft picking up three a piece and
Wharf four, it was a fine performance by Glamorgan.
Full postSomerset v Kent, Day 3
The Bath festival County Championship match between Somerset and Kent looks set for an exciting finish on the fourth day
08-Jun-2000
The Bath festival County Championship match between Somerset and Kent looks set for an exciting finish on the fourth day.
Somerset were left to chase 190 for their second championship success of the summer after they bowled Kent out for 223 in their second innings.
But Kent hit back well in the last hour to take the wickets of Marcus Trescothick, Piran Holloway and nightwatchman Steffan Jones.
Somerset closed on 50-3 and their hopes of a second championship success of the summer could depend largely on skipper Jamie Cox, unbeaten on 27, and former captain Peter Bowler, who has four to his name.
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