Report
Akram bowls Pakistan to victory over Select XI
St John's (Antigua), April 10: Pakistan avenged their defeat of Saturday against the West Indies Select XI by gaining a marginal 14-run victory over the home team at the Antigua Recreation Ground here on Sunday
Qamar Ahmed
11-Apr-2000
St John's (Antigua), April 10: Pakistan avenged their defeat of
Saturday against the West Indies Select XI by gaining a marginal
14-run victory over the home team at the Antigua Recreation Ground
here on Sunday.
Like the Pakistan team in the first match, the West Indies Select XI
also collapsed in a similar fashion while chasing 184 to win in 50
overs.
Mohammad Akram, who took three for 27 in the first match, was once
again in good form as he picked four for 28 as the Select XI were
bowled out for 169 in the 40th over. Pakistan in their innings had
made 183 for nine after winning the toss.
The Select XI from 135 for four had plummeted to 137 for seven after
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Runako Morton seemed to have taken the grip on
the game with a stand of 70 for the fifth wicket. The two had taken
their innings from 65 for four to 135.
Full postMashonland win Logan Cup despite spirited resistance from Manicaland
It took Mashonaland until just after tea to wrap up the Logan Cup final, winning by 257 runs, after some spirited resistance at times from Manicaland, who played the game in fine spirit throughout, as indeed they have done all season
John Ward
09-Apr-2000
It took Mashonaland until just after tea to wrap up the Logan Cup
final, winning by 257 runs, after some spirited resistance at
times from Manicaland, who played the game in fine spirit
throughout, as indeed they have done all season. Neil Ferreira
and Stuart Matsikenyeri scored determined fifties, while Gavin
Rennie, who has been bowling regularly again this season after
virtually giving up his left-arm spin due to back trouble, took
seven wickets.
Mashonaland declared overnight, setting Manicaland a mere 498 to
win. Manicaland were determined not to give in weakly, but the
odds were stacked against them, despite Mashonaland's rather
apathetic attitude in the field at times. Steve Lawson this time
opened with Neil Ferreira, but had scored only 7 before popping
up a ball from Gus Mackay backward of square on the leg side, for
Everton Matambanadzo to dive and catch.
Then came a determined stand between Ferreira and Patrick Gada,
both looking secure and playing each ball on its merits until,
with the total on 51, Gada thrust his pad at a straight ball from
Gavin Rennie, misreading the arm ball completely, to be given out
lbw for 18. In the same over Hamilton Masakadza, in contrast to
his fine first-innings effort, appeared to give it away; he hit
an uppish four that just cleared short mid-on, and then pushed a
low return catch that Rennie dived to take.
Mark Burmester looked aggressive and hit some firm boundaries,
only to be given out caught off bat and pad by Mackay off Rennie
for 20. Ferreira once again held out gallantly, and just before
the interval Strang bowled to him with all nine of his fielders
on the off side. Ferreira waited for the right ball and then
tapped it away wide of mid-on and ran three.
Full postStrang sews up Logan Cup for Mashonaland
Mashonaland 345 and 275/5; Manicaland 123
John Ward
08-Apr-2000
Mashonaland 345 and 275/5; Manicaland 123.
Mashonaland have won the Logan Cup, de facto if not de jure.
After taking a first-innings lead of 222 over Manicaland, they
declined to enforce the follow-on and pointlessly added a further
275 runs before the close, leaving the visitors in a hopeless
situation.
Under sunny skies, later to cloud over, Manicaland soon found
themselves with their backs to the wall, with Bryan Strang
getting movement in the air and off the pitch. Neil Ferreira,
backbone of the Manicaland batting, scored only 8, misjudging a
ball from Strang just outside the off stump, shouldering arms and
having it nip back to hit his off stump. Strang got his next
ball to swing in from outside leg stump and trap Patrick Gada
lbw, and Manicaland were 12 for two.
Steve Lawson saved the hat-trick, but he and Hamilton Masakadza,
batting with great determination but few strokes, really
struggled for runs, and there were times when overs bowled
exceeded the runs on the board. Finally Lawson's concentration
seemed to break, as he reached for a wide ball from Anton Hoffman
outside the off stump to be caught by Campbell for 2; 19 for
three in the 23rd over, and quite a few of these were courtesy of
some sloppy Mashonaland ground fielding.
Full postBevan's brilliance not enough in Bangladesh
Despite a stunning 185-run knock by Michael Bevan, the Rest of the World XI conceded a one-run defeat to mighty Asia XI in a thrilling limited-over match at the flood-lit Bangabandhu National Stadium Saturday
Zahid Newaz
08-Apr-2000
Despite a stunning 185-run knock by Michael Bevan, the Rest of the World XI conceded a one-run defeat to mighty Asia XI in a thrilling limited-over match at the flood-lit Bangabandhu National Stadium Saturday.
Southpaw batsman Bevan, who is famed for his top class finishing ability in one-dayer, lifted the match to an exciting position making a 119-run partnership in the eight-wicket stand with Andrew Caddick.
The match was dragged to a nerve breaking moment when Rest of the Eleven needed six runs from the last delivery of the innings but they completed their fifty overs making 319 runs for eight wickets in chasing the 320 runs scored by Asia.
In the last over of their innings, Rest of the Eleven needed 20 runs which was made almost possible when Bevan hit three consecutive boundaries off Pakistani pacer Abdur Razzaq.
Full postAir India derails Indian Railways
The much awaited title clash in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi Trophy women's tournament between Air India and Indian Railways got underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this morning
Anand Vasu
08-Apr-2000
The much awaited title clash in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi Trophy
women's tournament between Air India and Indian Railways got underway
at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this morning. Both teams came into the
match unbeaten. At the end of the day however, Air India were just too
good for Indian Railways. Their 178 run total proved 48 runs too many
for Indian Railways.
On winning the toss Air India captain Purnima Rau had no hesitation in
electing to bat. However, when she played down the wrong line to a
straight one from Sunita Kanojia the skipper couldn't have been too
pleased. She was trapped plumb in front and Air India had lost a big
wicket.
Anjum Chopra came in and gave Air India fans something to cheer about
with some fine batting. Playing with a straight bat, Chopra made good
use of a field that was spread out. Taking no risks, she forced the
scoring on.
When Anjum tried to cut a ball from off spinner Rupanjali Shastri
things went wrong for Air India. The ball was too close to the stumps
for the shot. All she managed to do was drag the ball back onto her
stumps. She looked good for a big score but managed just 24.
Full postWest Zone wins a cliff hanger
Asked to make 117 for a win against probably the best of zonal teams, on the hottest day of the Cricinfo Rani Jhansi tournament Central Zone could not hold the nerve and so lost to West Zone, giving the second one run win match of the day
Ganesh Virudhagiri
08-Apr-2000
Asked to make 117 for a win against probably the best of zonal teams,
on the hottest day of the Cricinfo Rani Jhansi tournament Central Zone
could not hold the nerve and so lost to West Zone, giving the second
one run win match of the day.
U Kalyani won the toss for West Zone in their last match of the
CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament at the SRMC grounds and decided to bat
against Central Zone on a wicket that had a lot of cracks. West Zone
women were not looking very enthusiastic after their close loss to Air
India yesterday.
West Zone openers, Amrutha Shinde and Triptimani Rocue added 57 in the
first 15 overs until the latter played a poor shot at Rahul Singh only
to lose her off stump. Amrutha along with Kalyani manouvred the spin
of Rahul Singh and Varsha Raphal sensibly and took the score to 77
when the skipper ran herself out for 17. The consistent Amrutha also
followed her captain giving an easy catch to Bindeshwari at deep
square leg after making a well played 40.
Once these two players were back in the pavilion, a slide was
expected. But Aarti Vaidya, capitalising on a dropped chance by Varsha
Raphal of Bindeshwari, kept one end tight and helped her team to cross
the three figure mark. Aarti perished in the 47th over trying to step
on the accelerator.
Full postNorth go down by slenderest of margins
North choked at the death to throw away a game they should have won with ease at the CPT ground in Chennai on the final day of the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament today
Sankhya Krishnan
08-Apr-2000
North choked at the death to throw away a game they should have won
with ease at the CPT ground in Chennai on the final day of the
CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament today. Replying to South Zone's total
of 164/9, North fell agonisingly short by one run, at 163/6. The
number of wickets in hand tells the tale of how North failed to force
the pace in the final overs. A magnificent 88 run third wicket
partnership between Rajini Bhalla (56 not out) and Gurdeep Kaur (44)
took North to 137/2 in the 42nd over.
The stand was broken in the only possible way that it looked like
happening, a run out, and two more wickets fell cheaply. But with
captain Rajini Bhalla around at the crease, North were still the
favourites until the very end. Eight were needed from the last two
overs and four from the last. Seema Wadhwa just could not get the ball
away in the final over bowled by Mamtha. Two runs were needed from the
last ball and Seema was bowled to give South a consolation victory and
North a most inconsolable loss. Mamtha had done the trick for South
with a spot on last over and finished with figures of 10-3-21-3.
Raakhee Mehra and Jaya Sharma had given North the ideal start with a
49 run stand in just under 18 overs. Both were dismissed at the same
score, the latter trapped leg before by Mamtha, and the former being
pointlessly run out. Rajini and Gurdeep made the task look easy as
they kept the scoreboard moving relentlessly for the next 23 odd overs
with some clean hitting, some deflections and some edges. The bowling
held no terror as the two never looked remotely in trouble. However
both began to tire towards the end, easing up in their running between
the wickets so much so that a run out looked a distinct
possibility. After Gurdeep had obliged South, Gulshan Sharma played
out a maiden from Mamtha in the 44th over to pile the pressure on
North. Yesterday North had mocked at an asking rate of 54 runs in 60
balls to take out Central but today they baulked at a much simpler
proposition. There was a funereal atmosphere in the North camp after
the match and as their coach launched into a tirade against them you
really felt sorry for these girls who had played their heart out for
the greatest part of the contest. Cricket can be a very unforgiving
game.
Earlier a 75 run third wicket partnership between Sudha Rani and
Harsha had helped South recover from the perilous depths of 17/3 but
North hit back towards the end to peg their target down to 165. A
combination of some poor running between the wickets and some inspired
bowling by Vandna Gupta and Anjuman Bassi cost South dearly. South
came into the match with a day's rest behind them and elected to bat
after winning the toss against a rejuvenated North side playing the
same eleven that beat Central yesterday. Vanita Viola cover drove
Vandna Gupta to the boundary in the very first over. A no ball was
called in Vandna's second over for illegally employing three fielders
behind the popping crease on the leg side. Asha Jain at the other end
was bowling to an unusual 7-2 field and in the 4th over of the day,
Manjula patted a halfvolley straight back to her to fall for a duck.
Full postMashonaland hold advantage in Logan Final
Mashonaland, the favourites, held an advantage at the end of the first of three days' play in the Logan Cup final against Manicaland, although they should have done better and would have done much worse had the opposition held their catches
John Ward
07-Apr-2000
Mashonaland, the favourites, held an advantage at the end of the
first of three days' play in the Logan Cup final against
Manicaland, although they should have done better and would have
done much worse had the opposition held their catches. They
totalled 345, gaining three batting points against Manicaland's
four for bowling, but failed to part the Manicaland openers in
seven overs before the close.
Manicaland, the underdogs, were forced to play a weakened team,
which included four schoolboys, as the Brents and Whittalls were
all missing: Jon Brent abroad, Gary and Guy Whittall in the West
Indies and Andrew Whittall unfit with a badly swollen finger.
Mashonaland had lost Dirk Viljoen to the West Indies, but gained
Trevor Gripper and Bryan Strang who had returned.
On a heavily overcast day, with rain a strong possibility at some
stage, Manicaland put Mashonaland in to bat on winning the toss,
hoping for the usual life in the Harare Sports Club pitch. It
proved to be quite a good batting pitch, though, although the
bowlers did get some early life when they put it on the spot.
Unfortunately that was all too infrequently. Leon Soma in
particular proved inaccurate, and the Manicaland bowlers in
general sent down too many short, wide balls. Openers Gavin
Rennie and Gripper, not usually known for his fast scoring, were
able to play themselves in with ease, and most of the early runs
came from pulls and cuts off rank bad balls.
To make matters worse Manicaland, perhaps overcome by the
occasion, dropped four catches during the morning session, three
of them offered by Gripper. Rennie had much less luck,
eventually falling to the second chance he gave, caught in the
covers just before lunch by Patrick Gada off captain Mark
Burmester for 52. The opening stand was worth 126 and already
the sound of nails hammered into the Manicaland coffin could be
heard. Off-spinner Steve Lawson bowled a good spell before
lunch, despite being hit for six over long-on by Gripper, and had
the same batsman dropped at the wicket off an inside edge, a hard
chance. At lunch Mashonaland went in on 134 for one (Gripper 68,
Darlington Matambanadzo 5).
Full postRajini takes an engrossing contest North's way
North Zone captain Rajini Bhalla played a matchwinning knock of 54 not out (92 balls) to marshal her side to a thrilling two wicket victory over Central Zone in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk today
Sankhya Krishnan
07-Apr-2000
North Zone captain Rajini Bhalla played a matchwinning knock of 54 not
out (92 balls) to marshal her side to a thrilling two wicket victory
over Central Zone in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament at the MA
Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk today.
After Central had run up an extremely competitive total of 193/9
thanks to a typically aggressive knock from wicketkeeper Arundhati
Kirkire, North were facing a sticky situation at 140/6 after 40
overs. Rajini displayed ice cold nerves under pressure and the tide
turned with a 31 run seventh wicket stand that she compiled with Seema
Wadhwa. The equation boiled down to nine in eleven balls with two
wickets in hand and No. 10 Sandeep Saini struck the winning runs off
the fourth ball of the last over. All the North players raced onto the
field to cheer the two gladiators and especially Rajini who had,
earlier in the match, delivered a tidy bowling spell of 1-18 in eight
overs with her leg breaks.
After Central won the toss and elected to bat, openers Bharati Verma
and Priyanka Sailey laid a strong foundation with a 59 run
partnership. The North bowlers were a bit indisciplined to begin with
as five wides and two no balls were gifted by Vandna Gupta and Asha
Jain in the first two overs. Bharati was off the blocks in the fourth
over with a couple followed by a boundary to mid wicket off Asha. The
scoreboard was kept ticking away efficiently with singles being taken
to fielders on the edge of the circle. Sandeep Saini was given the
ball in the 12th over which went for 10 runs including a Bharati
boundary to backward square leg.
The 50 came up off 12.2 overs but nine runs later Priyanka knocked
Seema Wadhwa to Rajini Bhalla at mid off for 17. Two overs later,
Bharati also departed, run out by Raakhee at short mid wicket, after
being sent back by Arundhati. Her 29 (49 balls) included three hits to
the fence. Chitra Bajpai and Arundhati now put on another profitable
association of 55 runs in 13.2 overs. Arundhati laid into the hapless
Seema in the 24th over with a straight driven boundary and a second
four to wide long on.
Full postAir India pip West Zone in thriller
West Zone lost an absolute humdinger to Air India in the CricInfo Rani Jhansi Trophy in Chennai today
Anand Vasu
07-Apr-2000
West Zone lost an absolute humdinger to Air India in the CricInfo Rani
Jhansi Trophy in Chennai today. Losing by just five runs to an Air
India side that was made to work hard for victory, West Zone settled
once more for silver in a big match. Despite a fighting 51 from
skipper Kalyani, West Zone could not make the required runs.
Chasing 152, West Zone got off to a bad start, losing Amrutha Shinde
early in the innings. Arti Vaidya looked confident while she took
strike, stroking the ball effortlessly through the off side. Coming to
the pitch of the ball, she used the angled bat to great effect,
carving the ball through the gaps in the off side. However when she
was going strong on 14 she tried to force the ball through the offside
off the bowling of mediumpacer Smita Harikrishna. The ball flew off
the face of the bat towards Manju Nadoda at slip. Sticking her right
hand out in a split second, she plucked the ball out of the air just
before it hit the ground.
In walked captain Kalyani Umbrani. She started slowly, content on
pushing the ball into the gaps for ones and twos. As the overs piled
on, the asking rate steadily crept up towards the six an over
mark. Vice captain Sunetra Parajape played steadily at the other
end. However, she perished just when things began to look solid for
West Zone.
After Sunetra was dismissed, things began to look decidedly better for
Air India. Sangeetha Kamat played a few good shots but could not
sustain her aggression. Sulakshana Naik, drafted into the side to
bolster the batting, livened up the proceedings with a pugnacious
knock. Hitting cleanly through the line, she narrowed the gap between
balls remaining and runs required. Sweeping the off spinners, she gave
West a glimmer of hope. When she ran herself out pushing hard for a
run that was simply not on, things were all but over.
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