Report
England v Zimbabwe, Second Test, Day 5
A major share of the honours had gone the way of Zimbabwe, the minnows of Test cricket when stumps were drawn on their first ever Test series in England
Andy Jalil
05-Jun-2000
A major share of the honours had gone the way of Zimbabwe, the minnows of
Test cricket when stumps were drawn on their first ever Test series in
England.
A match which had been marred by the wet weather and was, as a consequence,
heading towards a dull draw on what was going to be a meaningless final day,
was somewhat unexpectedly brought to life by the enterprising tourists.
Still as many as 89 runs behind, on the overnight score of 4 for 285, Andy
Flower the Zimbabwe captain had put the onus on England by declaring his
first innings and as such challenging England to make a game of it. The
adventurous move not only livened things up but, indeed, for the first time
in this series shifted the balance of play in Zimbabwe's direction.
This was clearly so during the morning period and for most of the second
session. Overcast conditions which prevailed throughout the day, just as it's
been the case for the duration of this entire Test. The bowlers made fine use
of the conditions and the jitters in the England batting rapidly set in.
Full postPakistan stun Sri Lanka with lightning display in the field
Pakistan rolled to an easy seven wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in a puerile final round robin game at the seventh Pepsi Asia Cup in Dhaka this evening
Sankhya Krishnan
05-Jun-2000
Pakistan rolled to an easy seven wicket triumph over Sri Lanka
in a puerile final round robin game at the seventh Pepsi Asia
Cup in Dhaka this evening. Set a target of 193, Yousof Youhana
was the prime mover in the Pakistani reply as the Lankans tried
everything to nip his budding second wicket stand with Mohd.
Wasim, including an attempt by Upul Chandana to physically
incapacitate Youhana with a throw that homed in on his elbow as
he raced between the wickets.
The batsman was in no mood to forgive that assault on his person
as he carved out an unbeaten 90, hitting a six each off Aravinda
and Jayusiriya at either end of the ground, besides stroking
eight boundaries. It took Youhana's tournament tally to 270 at
an average of 270.00! Wasim had been seen off by Muralitharan
for a patient 44, after compiling 107 in association with Youhana,
and Inzamam-ul-Haq holed out to midon on the doorstep of victory.
The Pakistanis even weathered a ball change two runs adrift before
closing the game out unhurriedly in the 49th over.
The Pakistani win was abetted in part by some untypically sloppy
running between the wickets by the Sri Lankans after they were
inserted. The islanders batted as though in a daze, without
a trace of their usual peppiness, excepting for one bright spark
when Marvan Atapattu and Upul Chandana joined hands in the middle
of the innings. When the fifth run out terminated the innings
in the penultimate over, Dav Whatmore bolted into the confines
of the dressing room with murder in his eye. If looks could kill,
the Sri Lankans would not have emerged into the twilight to take
the field.
Although Pakistan rested three of their biggest cannons, Saeed
Anwar, Wasim Akram and Abdur Razzaq, the Lankans took the field
in full earnest. Chandana returned for Dilshan and Sajeewa de
Silva was given an outing in place of his fellow left arm seamer,
Nuwan Zoysa. Shoaib Malik knocked the middle stump clean out of
the ground from short mid wicket to send Aravinda de Silva packing
for 2 but Sanath Jayasuriya briefly threatened to impose his
stamp on the proceedings, spanking five boundaries in a run a
ball 28, until Mahmood got him to topedge an intended pull to
Arshad Khan at mid off. Four runs later, providence smiled on
Marvan Atapattu, then on 10, as he flicked Mohd. Akram with pinpoint
precision to mid wicket where Mohd. Wasim contrived to floor
the offering.
Full postEngland v Zimbabwe, Second Test, Day 4
Not until the penultimate day of this short series did Zimbabwe's batsmen put up a performance that they were thought to be capable of
Andy Jalil
04-Jun-2000
Not until the penultimate day of this short series did Zimbabwe's batsmen put
up a performance that they were thought to be capable of.
Having surrendered in both innings so meekly at Lord's, the tourists this
time, led by a marvellous century by Murray Goodwin, lifted their game to put
up a batting display which will ensure them a most honourable draw.
In the course of his brilliant innings of 148 not out, Goodwin was superbly
assisted by Neil Johnson first and then the captain Andy Flower. Both
partnerships yielded centuries. With England's bowling becoming wayward and
appearing quite ordinary, with the possible exception of Darren Gough who
claimed both the wickets that fell today, Zimbabwe must get the praise for
taking advantage of it and dominating the play.
While Zimbabwe's batsmen were putting up their excellent show on yet another
rain-affected day, one's attention was drawn to an article published in a
Sunday newspaper today, on the on-going saga of bribery and match-fixing.
This time the name of India's former captain, Sunil Gavaskar, has been
mentioned.
Full postLeicestershire beat Yorkshire by 3 wickets
Leicestershire Foxes maintained their unbeaten record in the Norwich Union League when they beat Yorkshire Phoenix with 10 balls to spare
Neil Whitaker
04-Jun-2000
Leicestershire Foxes maintained their unbeaten record in the Norwich Union League when they beat Yorkshire Phoenix with 10 balls to spare. Ben Smith guided the Foxes home with an unbeaten 88.
After heavy rain on Saturday night the Foxes put Yorkshire into bat on a cold and overcast afternoon. The start to the Phoenix innings was strangled by the Foxes opening bowlers, especially Chris Lewis who bowled three maidens in his first six overs and conceded five runs. However James Ormond's third over gave momentum to the Phoenix start when he conceded 16 runs off it.
David Byas scored ten in 28 minutes before he was caught behind by Burns of Lewis. Gary Fellows and Richard Blakey put on 129 in 29 overs. When he had scored 63, Fellows was dropped at long on by Ward of Lewis. He was eventually out when he added another two runs to his score. Fellows pulled Dakin and DeFreitas made a running catch from square leg. His innings lasted 134 minutes and he hit four fours.
Blakey's fifty came after 113 minutes from 102 balls. Together with Lehmann the pair tried to get the Yorkshire innings going and put the match beyond the foxes as Lehmann hit Dakin for two successive fours. Lewis struck again when he had Blakey caught by Maddy for 68 in the 44th over. Michael Vaughan playing his first match for Yorkshire since breaking a bone in his hand scored two as the Yorkshire innings closed on 189 for three. Darren Lehmann scored an unbeaten 30 in35 minutes.
Full postEarly Indian exit was very much on the cards
The early exit of the Indian team from the Asia Cup was very much on the cards even after the display against the host nation, Bangladesh
Woorkheri Raman
04-Jun-2000
The early exit of the Indian team from the Asia Cup was very much on
the cards even after the display against the host nation, Bangladesh.
It is not a case of being wise in hindsight but the lack of firepower
in the bowling attack was very much in evidence in that game. To make
matters worse, the batting never looked like compensating the weakness
in the bowling department. The fact that Tendulkar, basically a part
timer, had to bowl the entire quota of overs is a reflection of the
state of affairs.
Coming back to the game against Pakistan, it was very obvious that the
side that batted better would emerge victorious, as the pitch was
flat. Pakistan, the team very much in touch, won the toss and the
early overs indicated the course the game was bound to take. Anwar,
the seasoned campaigner along with the talented Imran Nazir took off
to a mini flier of a start and Ganguly's problems carried on till the
end. The Indians were further handicapped as Joshi and Chopra were
unfit. The introduction of Kumble brought back the Indians into the
game as he effected quick dismissals. Agarkar, by dismissing Inzamam
provided a big opening to run through the Pakistani line up.
It was at this stage that the indomitable fighter, Moin Khan, joined
Youhana. He is one of those rare cricketers who excel in tight
situations. Khan, who likes to dominate the bowling, was not going to
let go of the clueless Indian attack. Youhana, whose potential was
evident in his first outing in international cricket, kept one end
going and played an innings with great common sense. The two
consolidated the innings and the significant aspect was that they did
not allow the run rate to drop. Eventually Agarkar broke the
partnership when he had Moin Khan caught at the wicket.
Youhana at the other end displayed the kind of maturity that would
have made Javed Miandad proud. He paced his innings with precision and
at no stage did he look ruffled. The highlight of his partnership with
Razzaq was the running between the wickets. The Indians were made to
look ragged but the placement of Youhana in his strokes into the
outfield was impeccable. His second fifty came in a jiffy and in the
later stages he had decided to be impish enough to toy with the Indian
bowlers. His six off the last ball of the innings is what normally
dreams are made off. By the time the Pakistani innings concluded, the
writing was on the wall. Another aspect that the Indians continue
messing up is not bowling the overs within the specified time limit.
Full postSomerset Sabres v Sussex Sharks
Marcus Trescothick chose home soil to show why he is on the verge of a breakthrough into international cricket at the age of 24
04-Jun-2000
Marcus Trescothick chose home soil to show why he is on the verge of a breakthrough into international cricket at the age of 24.
Somerset's maturing vice-captain hit a superb 72 on a sluggish Bath Festival pitch to help his side make it maximum points from their opening three National League First Division fixtures.
And, just for good measure, Trescothick added the priceless wicket of danger-man Michael Bevan with his occasional medium-paced bowling as the Sabres got home by 16 runs, having been dismissed for 197 after losing the toss.
A product of nearby Keynsham Cricket Club, the powerful left-hander looks increasingly capable of earning an England cap this season, in limited overs cricket if not the Tests.
He was called up to act as 12th man for the first three days of the current Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, having already taken part in a pre-season England get-together under coach Duncan Fletcher.
Full postYorkshire v Leicestershire, Match abandoned as a draw
Rain ruined this top of the table clash at Headingley
Neil Whitaker
03-Jun-2000
Rain ruined this top of the table clash at Headingley. No play at all was possible on the final day following overnight rain. On Friday only 16.3 overs were bowled and on Thursday the Yorkshire batsmen faced 45 overs. The rain was a stark contrast to when play started on Wednesday in glorious sunshine.
On that first morning the Leicester openers Maddy and Ward set off like an express train with the Leicester 50 coming up after only 38 minutes. Maddy's own 50 was scored in 65 minutes off 57 balls and included nine fours. It was his second fifty of the season.
The partnership was broken with the score on 84 when Ward was caught by Byas at second slip of Gavin Hamilton for 19. Maddy was the next out when the score reached 106. He too was caught by Byas but this time of the off spinner Middlebrook.
Vince Wells scored 19 but he lost his off stump to Hutchison. After that dismissal the Leicester middle order folded. Habib was caught by Lehmann at short leg when he clipped Hutchison of his toes. Darren Stevens miss timed his pull shot straight to Craven at short mid wicket. Ben Smith became James Middlebrook's third victim when he was leg before for 30.
Full post2nd Test, 3rd day, Nottingham
For the third successive day the weather had its say with the start being delayed until 12.15pm
Andy Jalil
03-Jun-2000
For the third successive day the weather had its say with the start being delayed until 12.15pm. But surprisingly there were no interruptions once it going.
From England's point of view, the initial interest lay in Michael Atherton scoring the four runs for which he had waited since the end of play on the first day. That amounted to seven and a quarter hours during which no play was possible.
Despite having scored four hundred runs in the previous Test at Lord's and near enough that figure in the innings completed today, there is no clear indication that all is well with England's batting, going by the innings here.
Atherton's patient innings took him to his fourteenth Test century and the 50th of his first-class career. With it he also equalled Denis Compton's record of five Test centuries on this ground and it was of no surprise to hear him say that this was his favourite venue and that he always enjoyed batting here. Indeed, his maiden Test hundred (151) was also at Trent Bridge, against New Zealand in 1990. With the exception of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he has now scored centuries against every Test-playing nation.
Full postYouhana bats Pakistan into Asia Cup final
India lost the toss - and just about everything that followed
Anand Vasu
03-Jun-2000
India lost the toss - and just about everything that followed.
They were beaten hands down in the batting department while the
bowlers had the worst possible day. If Ganguly was upset about experienced cricketers not applying themselves in the defeat
against Sri Lanka he would certainly be upset with the showing
his youngsters put up today. When your opening bowlers give away
161 runs between them, the match is halfway lost. The other half
proved equally painful as India slumped to 251 all out and were
knocked out of the seventh Asia Cup, going down to Pakistan by
44 runs at the Bangabandhu stadium on Saturday.
Imran Nazir must be controlled. There must be some kind of
law prohibiting the assault he launched on the Indians. Hitting
cleanly, Nazir took the Indian bowlers to task in the severest
possible manner. Neither the inexperienced Thirunavukarasu Kumaran
nor the even more inexperienced Amit Bhandari could stop him.
As is usually the case, the ball was thrown to Anil Kumble in
distress. Brought on to bowl the ninth over, Kumble sent down a
good, tight over, the first maiden of the day. In just his second
over, Kumble drew first blood for India as Saeed Anwar hit a ball straight to Kumaran at long on. Even as the first wicket fell,
Pakistan had 74 runs on the board. Before the scoreboard could
tick over, Imran Nazir followed his senior partner back to the pavilion. In similar fashion he holed out to Ajit Agarkar in the
deep.
Shahid Afridi joined Yousuf Youhana and the latter played the
kind of innings that people will remember for a long time to come.
No pomp. No splendour. But he never ever gave the bowlers a chance. Knocking the ball neatly around the park, using the angled bat to
great effect, Youhana sealed one end up. He brought up his fifty in
90 balls, rather slow one might say for a limited overs international. But when Kumaran sent down the last ball of the innings and that
promptly disappeared off Youhana's blade over the long on fence, it
was a fairy tale finish. Youhana's second fifty had come off just
23 balls. Ending on a neat, unbeaten 100, Youhana looked up to the skies and made the sign of the cross in gratitude.
Full postEngland v Zimbabwe, Second Test, Day 2
The duration of a Test match is usually determined by the state of play in the first two days
Andy Jalil
02-Jun-2000
The duration of a Test match is usually determined by the state of play in
the first two days. At Trent Bridge, however, the progress of the match seems
totally dependent on the elements.
Although, in the end, only an hour's playing time was lost yesterday with the
extra hour being taken in sunshine towards the end of the day, the second day
saw no action at all.
Having made several ground inspections, the umpires finally decided around
5.30pm, that no play was possible, the outfield being particularly wet. It is
an interesting statistic that this is the tenth time that an entire day's
play has been lost on this ground and it's the first time since August 1967.
Some may think that in view of Zimbabwe's performance on this tour generally
and after the one-sided show at Lord's, the inclement weather is being
merciful to them. Not even the most optimistic of their supporters would be
entertaining serious thoughts of Zimbabwe being able to lift their game
sufficiently to come anywhere near to levelling this two-match series.
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