Ireland successfully defended a small total of 149 when they defeated Netherlands by 19 runs in the Plate Championship of the under-19 World Cup at the Radella grounds on Wednesday

19-Jan-2000

Ireland successfully defended a small total of 149 when they defeated Netherlands by 19 runs in the Plate Championship of the under-19 World Cup at the Radella grounds on Wednesday.

Electing to bat, Ireland found runs hard to come by against the trio of Tewarie (3 for 23), Nijman (2 for 31) and Hout (2 for 23) and were restricted to 149 for eight in 40 overs. Opener D Joyce top scored with a fighting 58. He faced 101 balls and hit five of them to the fence. With wicketkeeper R Haire (23) he took part in the only stand of note - 62 runs for the fourth wicket off 11.5 overs.

Netherlands also struggled for runs and at 66 for seven, they faced a big defeat. But A Raja (43) and A Buurman (15) put up a semblance of a fight by adding 34 runs for the eighth wicket off seven overs. Raja who was last out, faced 46 balls and hit two fours and two sixes. C Armstrong was the most successful bowler with three for 13 off six overs. Netherlands were all out for 130 in 38.3 overs.

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North defeat West in high scoring game

In another high scoring match at Rajkot, North Zone defeated West Zone by 29 runs

19-Jan-2000

In another high scoring match at Rajkot, North Zone defeated West Zone by 29 runs. North Zone led off with 312 for eight in 50 overs with Ajay Jadeja hitting a sparkling 91 off 90 balls with ten fours. A splendid century by Vinod Kambli went in vain as West Zone despite a gallant effort, were restricted to 283 for nine in 50 overs.

North Zone, opting to bat first, lost Ashu Dani early. But skipper Vikram Rathour and Jadeja steadied the innings by adding 57 runs for the second wicket off 10.5 overs. The momentum was maintained with Jadeja and Pankaj Dharmani slamming 98 runs off 17.1 overs for the third wicket. After Jadeja's deaparture, Dharmani and Virendra Sehwag then flogged the West Zone bowling to put on a further 94 runs for the fourth wicket off 10.5 overs. While Dharmani hit 70 off 94 balls with five fours, Sehwag cracked 66 off just 39 balls with seven hits to the ropes.

West Zone started their reply in a dazzling manner with openers Wasim Jaffer (21) and Sitanshu Kotak (28) putting on 34 runs off 4.4 overs. Kambli now entered and took charge, dominating a second wicket stand of 81 runs off 18 overs with Kotak. After Kotak's departure, Kambli and Amol Muzumdar (42) maintained the momentum by adding 83 runs off 15.5 overs for the third wicket. At 198 for two in the 39th over, West Zone had a winning chance. But the run outs of Kambli and Muzumdar in successive overs saw their hopes dashed. Both run outs were effected by Jadeja. Kambli's 106 was made off 131 balls and he hit 13 fours. The remaining batsmen, with the exception of skipper Nayan Mongia (29 not out) could not contribute much and West Zone were restricted to 283 for nine in 50 overs. Robin Singh was the most successful bowler with three for 53.

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Ashish Bagai stands tall among the ruins

When South Africa won the toss in the match against the Americas, they jumped at the opportunity to have a good bat on a sunny day at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy

Anand Vasu

19-Jan-2000

When South Africa won the toss in the match against the Americas, they jumped at the opportunity to have a good bat on a sunny day at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. Both openers, G Smith (59) and A Puttick (76) got stuck into the juicy American medium pacers and pasted them all around the park. None of the American bowlers could stop the steady flow of runs.

It was only Oliver Pitcher who provided some respite with his nippy spell of 7-0-27-2. Pitcher ran up to the crease with a steady rhythm and his enthusiasm never diminished through his spell. It was hardly surprising that he picked up the only two wickets to go to the bowlers on the day. When Smith mishit Pitcher, the ball was safely held by Stephen Outerbridge to give America its first breakthrough. Once again it was Pitcher who made the difference as a good sharp throw from the deep found Puttick short of his ground. Century maker from earlier Jacques Rudolph also fell to Pitcher as he attempted a wild swipe across the line to a straight ball and missed the ball completely. Scorecards will never reveal how much spirit Oliver Pitcher brought to this game.

Apart from those three breakthroughs, there was no joy for America as the South Africans marched confidently on to 264/3 off 50 overs.

The South Africans played their cricket hard, and probably more so because they had been eliminated from the Super League without actually completing a single game. In contrast the Americans were relaxed and looked to enjoy the day?s cricket. However it must be said that this did not reduce the earnestness with which they approached the game.

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U-19 World Cup: Player of the day - Tatenda Taibu

Tatenda Taibu is clearly a bright prospect for the future

19-Jan-2000

Tatenda Taibu is clearly a bright prospect for the future. The 17 year old Zimbabwe's wicket-keeper played very well at Galle International Cricket Stadium against Kenya on wednesday. Behind the stumps he looked natural with his glovework neat and precise. His batting too showed great promise. He looked a compact player during his entertaining innings of 40 off 57 deliveries, which included five boundaries. He steadied the Zimbabwean innings, which had appeared a little shaky at 88-3 and guided his team to an emphatic victory.

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Australia Triumph in close encounter

A six off the fifth ball of the penultimate over by T Welsford off M Samuels gave Australia a four wicket victory over West Indies at the SSC ground in Colombo

18-Jan-2000

A six off the fifth ball of the penultimate over by T Welsford off M Samuels gave Australia a four wicket victory over West Indies at the SSC ground in Colombo.

From the beginning it promised to be a close match. Opting to bat, West Indies were off to a fine start with openers B Parchment (25) and Zaheer Ali (29) putting on 71 runs from 24.3 overs. But the openers fell in successive overs. However M Samuels (53) and skipper RO Hinds (33) got the innings going again with a third wicket partnership of 88 runs off 16 overs. Samuels faced 58 balls and hit six fours and a six. The batsmen who followed could not add much but the West Indians were still able to post a challenging target of 200 in 50 overs.

The Australians, in contrast, made a mediocre start and were four down for 84 before a fifth wicket partnership of 83 runs off 15 overs between S Watson (62) and N Hauritz (38) saw them back in the game. By the time Hauritz left however it was already the 45th over. Watson was run out in the 48th over after facing 101 balls and hitting five fours and a six. Welsford, who had come in at the fall of the fifth wicket, was however in control of the situation and made light of what could have been a tough target. At the end he was unbeaten with 27 off just 15 balls with two fours and two sixes - the second six signalling the Australian triumph.

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Sydney Juniors: Bankstown win Green Shield again

The Bankstown-Canterbury under sixteen A.W.Green Shield side completed a unique double when they won the competition for the second season in a row with a convincing victory over Penrith last Sunday in the final at Rosedale Oval

Bankstown-Canterbury Cricket Club

18-Jan-2000

Under the shrewd guidance of perennial Coach Ian Gill and Manager Noel Trevena the side went through the competition undefeated ensuring that the future of the Bulldogs Cricket Club is in very good hands.

Skipper and wicketkeeper/batsman James Allsopp, who shows maturity beyond his years, won the toss last Sunday under hot conditions and elected to bat. The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs got off to a good start with a solid opening partnership of 40 between Peter Dugmore and Brant Burke-Douglas. However a mini collapse saw the 'Dogs slump to a precarious 5-96 before some defiant batting from the middle order and a fighting innings from Dugmore got the Bulldogs barking again.

With the ball keeping low on a difficult turning pitch Dugmore was absolutely superb combining determined defence with some audacious hitting to keep the persistent Panther bowlers at bay. He was denied an almost certain century when he was surprisingly adjudged caught and bowled from a shot that appeared to be hammered into the pitch but his spirited 79 from a 117 minute stay at the crease proved to be the matchwinner.

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Sri Lanka outplay defending champs England

Sri Lanka romped to a seven wicket victory against England at P

Charlie Austin

18-Jan-2000

Sri Lanka romped to a seven wicket victory against England at P. Sara Ground in Colombo today. The English batsmen never got to grips with the Sri Lankan spinners and were bowled out for just 123. In reply the Sri Lankan top order tore into some pretty ordinary English bowling, scoring the 124 for three wickets in just 24.5 overs.

The 1998 World Champions now have to beat India if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. Unfortunately the manner in which they played the spinners suggests that this will be very unlikely.