Report
Klusener helps bury Edgbaston ghost
It was the sort of batting revival which was more in keeping with the World Cup than the emotion-charged early evening at an over-flowing Wanderers but South Africa came back almost from the dead to bury the Edgbaston ghost
Trevor Chesterfield
16-Apr-2000
It was the sort of batting revival which was more in keeping with the World Cup than the emotion-charged early evening at an over-flowing Wanderers but South Africa came back almost from the dead to bury the Edgbaston ghost. While it was a flashing Mark Boucher cover drive which sealed a six-wickets victory over Australia yesterday to take the Challenge Series trophy it was man of the match Lance Klusener who pulled the lower-order together to tie up the victory.
Exhibiting the sort of batting flair which has been missing from his limited-overs game plan for a lengthy portion of the second half of this season Klusener, it is easy to imagine, dreamed about this victory for 10 months between this third game in late highveld autumn and the tied game against the Aussies last June. An unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 87 off 96 balls between Klusener and Boucher wrested the initiative from the Aussies after cautious start.
You could not get a much more dramatic stage than a packed, raucous bullring either as on a pitch far from easy and helped the swing bowlers throughout the day Klusener took hold of a what had been a jittery innings to help steer it to 209 for six in response to the Wizards of Oz's 205.
While Klusener reacted with a typical modest "thank goodness" to the query that he had discovered form at the right time, Shaun Pollock, playing his 100th match for South Africa felt the "stubborn character of Klusener and Boucher" did as much to ensure victory, forgetting to mention his own efforts as a bowler with his four for 37. Which supports Pollock's initial thought of "a great all-round team effort" being the main reason South Africa won the series 2-1 and set up the August series in Melbourne's new massive indoor for arena. It is going to be an enticing showdown all right between the two strongest sides in the LOI arena.
Full postVanka hits century as match meanders to listless end
With the competitive interest having long been put to rest, the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Karnataka and Hyderabad meandered to a listless conclusion in Bangalore today
Sankhya Krishnan
15-Apr-2000
With the competitive interest having long been put to rest, the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Karnataka and Hyderabad meandered to a listless conclusion in Bangalore today. Vanka Pratap's sixth Ranji century and his second this season was the only saving grace after Karnataka's resistance had terminated at 557 in the morning. VVS Laxman failed and Mohd. Azharuddin did not deign to grace the wicket with his presence as Hyderabad settled at a score of 236/6 to go ahead towards a summit clash with Mumbai in Mumbai beginning April 19.
Earlier Dodda Ganesh enlivened the proceedings with some big hitting on the final morning. Ganesh struck consecutive sixes over long on and mid wicket off Kanwaljit Singh while Mansur Ali Khan who had got off the mark earlier with a five, including two overthrows, played the two spinners with an admirably straight bat. The third new ball was due eight overs into the session but Azhar persisted with the two spinners and it was Raju who drove the final nail into the coffin when Ganesh charged at him with head high in the air and eyes off the ball, to have his stumps rearranged. His 76 was the sixth half century of the innings and if just one guy had played a longer hand, Karnataka would have got within sniffing distance of the Hyderabad total.
With a lead of 154 in the kitty, Daniel Manohar and Nandakishore resumed battle against the Karnataka seam attack. Ganesh bowled a short length to Manohar and was pulled away to the boundary on two occasions. But Ganesh persisted and took a good left handed catch to his intense delight as Manohar got an edge while trying to dismiss the ball from his presence once more. Off the very next ball, Nandakishore fell leg before to Prasad, playing forward but not enough to sow some doubt in the umpires mind. VVS Laxman and Vanka Pratap both got their first boundaries to the vacant third man area. With Sunil Joshi not taking the field, Vijay Bharadwaj was thrust into the role of lead spinner and in the second ball after lunch he uprooted Laxman's middle stump through the gap between bat and pad, with the batsman having taken his season's tally to 1258, just 22 short of Bharadwaj's record.
Parth Satwalkar kept driving into the midriff of silly point who was standing too close to hold anything but Bharadwaj finally snared him when he flicked one in the direction of midwicket where Akhil leapt to his right to hold a brilliant one hander. That left Hyderabad at 93/4 but Azharuddin still did not bother to make the effort to climb down one flight of stairs and enter the middle. Karnataka were bowling with enthusiasm and appealing spiritedly as they tried to make further inroads into the middle order although it was dubious whether this would serve any practical purpose.
Full postMumbai romp home with 8 wickets to spare
The Mumbai batsmen finished the formalities in quick time at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday morning
Anand Vasu
15-Apr-2000
The Mumbai batsmen finished the formalities in quick time at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday morning. And the oft crowned champions entered the final of the Ranji Trophy in style by beating Tamil Nadu by eight wickets. It was Mumbai's 38th entry into the title round.
Sameer Dighe gifted part time off spinner Sadagopan Ramesh a wicket. Having made 73 with consummate ease, Dighe hit an off spinner straight to Kumaran at deep mid off.
Sachin Tendulkar walked out to the middle and in the company of Jatin Paranjpe who helped himself to a half century, wrapped up the match. Robin Singh, bowling off spin, provided light relief in an otherwise dead match.
Mumbai will now take on Hyderabad in the final. The five day match commences at the Wankhede stadium on April 19. With Mohammed Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar meeting face to face, the match should be a hard fought one. The only previous occasion when the two teams met in the final was in 1964-64 when the then Bombay, in the midst of their all conquering run, defeated Hyderabad at the Fateh Maiden by an innings and 124 runs.
Full postCable and Wireless ODIs: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe
St George's (Grenada), April 15: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets in the 5th match of the Triangular One-Day series here at the Queen's Park Stadium on Saturday
15-Apr-2000
St George's (Grenada), April 15: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
in the 5th match of the Triangular One-Day series here at the Queen's
Park Stadium on Saturday.
They have now qualified to play West Indies in the best of three
finals beginning on Wednesday. Imran Nazir the new Pakistan opener
scored a unbeaten 105 with the help of 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Final score: Zimbabwe 204 for 7 (50 overs), Pakistan 205 for 4 (43.1
overs).
Earlier Report: Zimbabwe 204/7 after fine start
Full postMumbai poised to enter Ranji Trophy final
The first half hour of play dictated terms for the whole match
Anand Vasu
14-Apr-2000
The first half hour of play dictated terms for the whole match.
Sachin Tendulkar took the game by the horns, scored the runs required
to secure a first innings lead and knocked the stuffing out of the
visiting team. At the end of the day, Tamil Nadu were staring defeat
in the face with Mumbai needing just 64 runs to win the Ranji Trophy
semifinal with a whole day and nine wickets in hand.
With just 16 runs to score to take a first innings lead, the air was
thick with tension at the Wankhede Stadium. Tamil Nadu were right on
the ball in the field, keen to deny Mumbai every small
opportunity. Kumaran conceded just one run in his first over and kept
the pressure up.
Mahesh bowled a dot ball to start his first over, the second of the
day. Tendulkar eased the ball past towards long off and pushed hard
for two. Unable to keep up, Kuruvilla was stranded by a good throw
from Gokulakrishna in the deep. One wicket was down and tension was
mounting.
Santosh Saxena came to the crease but had to be content watching
Tendulkar from the non striker's end. He had no regrets doing
that. Coming down the wicket, Tendulkar showed the full face of a very
heavy bat as he lofted Mahesh back over his head. The ball lifted,
climbed, took off and never returned. The Tamil Nadu team looked in
disarray as the ball disappeared out of the stadium. Sensibly,
Tendulkar took a single off the last ball of the over and kept the
strike.
Full postKarnataka to formally exit Ranji Trophy tomorrow
A light shower in the final session forced stumps to be called almost twelve overs early and prevented Hyderabad from mopping up the Karnataka tail this evening
Sankhya Krishnan
14-Apr-2000
A light shower in the final session forced stumps to be called almost
twelve overs early and prevented Hyderabad from mopping up the
Karnataka tail this evening. Tomorrow the Ranji Trophy holders will be
formally administered the push from this year's edition, a result that
was arguably on the cards by the end of the first day
itself. Karnataka's last pair averted the follow on but there will be
little relief in the home camp, trailing as they are by 188 runs at
523/9.
Not even a washout of the last day's play can save Karnataka. The
playing conditions affirm that in case of a no result on first
innings, a comparison of run rates will decide the winner. Karnataka
has an inferior run rate, a natural corollary to having an inferior
batting, bowling and fielding.
Karnataka started the fourth day trailing by 442 and with the second
new ball due in five overs. Raju and Kanwaljit bowled three overs each
before the new ball was handed to Fiaz Ahmed who had been
disappointing yesterday, with 40 runs being taken off his six overs.
Bharadwaj became the fourth successive batsman to get to his fifty and
neither he nor Barrington seemed to be in undue discomfort as the
seamers tried to find their rhythm.
The first boundary off the bat came in the 13th over of the day when
Barrington got Fiaz away between second slip and gully to third man,
bringing up the 300 in the process. But when Barrington tried to
streak one through the slips in the same over, he saw Mohd.
Azharuddin's left hand come in the way at the last possible moment and
catch the ball inches off the ground at second slip. In that one
moment the difference between the two sides was there to see in
unmistakable terms.
Full postAdelaide A Grade Grand Final, 1999-2000
In a tight tussle, marred slightly by a couple of umpiring decisions, Kensington foiled West Torrens' attempt at its first premiership for nearly forty years with a narrow victory giving them their second title in the past four seasons
Lawrie Colliver
14-Apr-2000
In a tight tussle, marred slightly by a couple of umpiring decisions, Kensington foiled West Torrens' attempt at its first premiership for nearly forty years with a narrow victory giving them their second title in the past four seasons. The Browns commenced their innings in perfect conditions and there was action a plenty in the opening hour as Andrew McRitchie top edged a reckless hookshot and was dropped by over-exuberant paceman Daniel Lynch as he nearly collided with Ben Higgins who was running in from square leg. A few balls later, McRitchie shouldered arms and had his off stump bent back off a no ball and in the next over Anthony McDonald was dropped low down in the slips by Bradley Young off Brett Swain. Lynch redeemed his early error by getting McRitchie a short time later, attempting another rash hook stroke. Bradman Medalist John Lee immediately went on the attack, and just as he had reached his fifty, following some strong off side play, he edged to slip and lunch was taken at 2/105.
Jamie Siddons went on the attack after the break, hitting Matthew Minagall into the temporary stand, but immediately after drove at one that he wasn't to the pitch of and hit a return catch. Left hander McDonald continued to play the sheet anchor role and he was next to go giving Brad Wigney the first of two wickets in two balls as Jamie McPhee was trapped plumb in front first ball to make Kensington an uncomfortable 5/131.
Skipper Dean Waugh was joined by Barry Steele but the union didn't last long with the ex-New South Welshman becoming Minagall's third wicket. Then came the first of two very contenious umpiring decisions in the match by Paul Angley as Steele was fortunate to survive a huge lbw shout as he padded up to Wigney. He eventually succumbed to Young but he and Justin Creek added 30 very valuable runs in the meantime and in the eventual context of the game these were vital to the outcome. Creek continued to bat well and he and John Palmer got the Browns through to tea at 7/196.
Kensington's innings didn't thrive for too long into the final session with Minagall getting his fourth wicket and Young his second from 15.1 very tight overs. Creek was unbeaten at the end, justifying his place in the team solely as a batsman. West Torrens had 25 overs to survive on the Saturday and things started poorly as Jarrad Taylor padded up to left arm quick Andrew Watson. Darren Reeves and Andrew Haslett scratched out the foundations of a good partnership until shortly before the close Reeves played a loose shot off McPhee to go for 27 and in the next over Haslett was brilliantly stumped down the leg side off medium pacer Jamie Panelli.
Full postHabib Bank clinch the NBP Cup
Habib Bank Limited (HBL), lifted the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) one day Cricket Cup, defeating Khan Research Labs (KRL) by 19 runs, in an exciting finish at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Thursday
Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim
14-Apr-2000
Habib Bank Limited (HBL), lifted the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) one day Cricket Cup, defeating Khan Research Labs (KRL) by 19 runs, in an exciting finish at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Thursday.
The KRL Captain Nadeem Abbasi (a former test player) won the toss and invited HBL to bat first on warm sunny late spring day at Lahore. Led by the former Pakistan Captain Saleem Malik, HBL were all out for a modest total of 182 runs. Hasan Raza who had at one time created the record of being the youngest test player in the game, was the top scorer with 57. Incidently, the two former stars of Pakistan, Saleem Malik and Ijaz Ahmed were out for a duck each. With 4 wickets for 31, Yasir Arafat was the most successful bowler for KRL.
In reply, the KRL were bundled out for 163 runs in 47.5 overs. Imran Farhat, an upcoming leg spinner had caused the rout by claiming 4 wickets for 57 runs. Naseer Ahmed was the highest scorer with 41.
HBL, one of the leading teams in the tournament thus clinched the trophy. The tournament sponsored and organised by the National Bank of Pakistan having offered attractive prize money as well as other awards, was participated by the best teams in Pakistan's domestic cricket.
Full postPoor batting lets down Pakistan
Kingstown (St Vincent), April 13: Pakistan batting failed to come to terms with the variable bounce of Arnos Vale pitch as it wilted and doomed the tourists to their first defeat against the West Indies in the triangular one-day series here on
Qamar Ahmed
14-Apr-2000
Kingstown (St Vincent), April 13: Pakistan batting failed to come to
terms with the variable bounce of Arnos Vale pitch as it wilted and
doomed the tourists to their first defeat against the West Indies in
the triangular one-day series here on Wednesday (briefly reported in
Thursday's edition).
Chasing a target of 214 in 50 overs, Pakistan were devastated by the
Jamaican fast bowler Franklyn Rose, who bagged a career best haul of
five for 23 to bowl the tourists out for only 117 in 41.3 overs.
After containing the West Indies for 213, the target of just over four
runs an over was made to look a huge struggle by Pakistan's inept
batting. Their fragility and the gaping hole in their batting line-up
was fully exposed as wickets one batsman followed another.
If not for a solid and defiant unbeaten 51 in 94 deliveries by the
in-form Inzamam-ul-Haq the outcome could have been even more
embarrassing. His partnership for the sixth-wicket with his captain
Moin Khan (20) was the only resistance that Pakistan could offer after
losing five wickets for just 41 runs in twenty overs.
Full postAustralia makes the most of flat South Africa
As you would expect from World Cup champions, Australia bounced off the ropes and stubbed out South Africa's aim of wrapping up the Challenge Series at Newlands last night and head for the Wanderers on Sunday mentally better prepared
Trevor Chesterfield
14-Apr-2000
As you would expect from World Cup champions, Australia bounced off the ropes and stubbed out South Africa's aim of wrapping up the Challenge Series at Newlands last night and head for the Wanderers on Sunday mentally better prepared.
It has been a long summer, though and the signs of fatigue are starting to show: South Africa feeling the brunt of a tougher end-of-season programme than their visitors, and they knew it was going to be a lot harder to pull that extra out of their physical and mental reserves.
The result was an Australian victory by five wickets and such was Steve Waugh's confidence he allowed the others to get a "middle net" and declined to strap on his pads as South Africa produced an embarrassing powder-puff effort.
After the Kingsmead success South Africa's need to do it again 48 hours later proved one game too many: now Shaun Pollock's side need to deliver if they hope to retain their mental and physical self-possession before the season slips quietly into the autumn mist.
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