Report
Central breeze past South with minimum fuss
Central Zone eased past South Zone by seven wickets on the opening day of the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament for women in Chennai at the Integral Coach Factory ground
Sankhya Krishnan
02-Apr-2000
Central Zone eased past South Zone by seven wickets on the opening day
of the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament for women in Chennai at the
Integral Coach Factory ground. After being put in to bat South had
started confidently and were eyeing a useful score at 108/3 in the
31st over but the Central spinners led by Bindeshwari Goyal pulled the
rug from under them as South collapsed to 137 all out. Central
openers, Bharati Varma and Priyanka Sailey then put on an opening
wicket stand of 73 and although both were sent off in quick
succession, Central still had enough firepower to end the contest with
fourteen overs to spare. Central keeper Arundhati had a satisfying
day, snapping up five catches behind the stumps and stroking an unbeaten 27
that included four boundaries.
Amsavalli and Karuna Jain opened the batting for South and in the
fourth over of the day Neetu Singh struck first blood for Central when
she sent back Karuna for a duck. Harsha came in at one drop with the
score at 10/1 but there was poor coordination between the two
batswomen in their running between the wickets and almost inevitably
the stand ended in a run out, with Amsavalli the victim. Earlier
Harsha had scored the first two boundaries of the innings in the 10th
over bowled by Tara. She seemed to be in a belligerent mood when she
was stumped by the keeper off Preeti for 32 (49 balls, 3 fours), which
turned out to be the highest score for South.
The sun had come out in full splendour belying the weather office's
gloomy predictions of morning showers. Sudha Rani and Vinita Viola
then put on a significant if not entirely convincing stand of 48 for
the fourth wicket. But after Sudha was caught at long on for 29 when
she stepped to the pitch and drove Bindeshwari , South suffered an
inexplicable collapse. Vinita too departed at 119, bowled by Preeti
and the last six wickets fell for 18 as the innings folded up for 137
in the penultimate over. Bindeshwari Goyal was the most successful
bowler for Central with her nagging offbreaks claiming 3-26 in ten
overs. She was well supported by fellow spinners Preeti Dudhe and
Varsha Raphael with two wickets each.
Facing an asking rate of 2.76, Central openers Bharti Varma and
Priyanka Sailey began their reply on a strong footing. But GS
Lakshmi, the South captain, threw everything into a desperate effort
to derail Central. She bowled a torrid but luckless first spell in
which Bharati was dropped in the slips, the ball actually going
through the slip cordon for three runs. Priyanka was also not
comfortable with Lakshmi medium pace stuff and popped one just
out of reach of forward short leg. When Lakshmi came off after a first
spell of 6-1-15-0, the openers breathed easy. Priyanka was the more
resourceful of the two as she kept stepping out and lofting to long on
although the thickish grass in that region of the outfield prevented
the ball from going all the way.
Full postAustralia follows the New Zealand pattern with highs and lows
Australia came out of a day in which 306 runs were scored and 12 wickets fell maintaining the advantage they established in the first session of the first day - but only after seeing their first innings follow a disturbingly similar pattern to New
Chris Rosie
01-Apr-2000
Australia came out of a day in which 306 runs were scored and 12 wickets
fell maintaining the advantage they established in the first session of the
first day - but only after seeing their first innings follow a disturbingly
similar pattern to New Zealand's.
A top-order collapse, two mid-order partnerships and little from the lower
order saw the Australian first innings close with just a 20-run advantage.
In the process, Damien Martyn with an undefeated 89 and the New Zealand
left-armer, Shayne O'Connor (five for 51), returned their best test
performances.
Australia opened the second day under a clear Hamilton sky at 4 for 1. In
the fifth over of the morning, the left-armer Shayne O'Connor extracted legbefore decisions from Umpire Jayapakash against first an uncomfortable
Slater for 2 and then Warne for 10 with identical deliveries, pitching
centre and moving off the wicket.
At the other end, Cairns was not about to be left out of the action. In the
next over, he got through Langer's defence, the hint of an inside edge
assisting the ball into the stumps.
Full postKanwaljit restricts UP
Veteran Hyderabad off spinner Kanwaljit Singh helped restrict Uttar Pradesh on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at Green Park in Kanpur on Saturday
01-Apr-2000
Veteran Hyderabad off spinner Kanwaljit Singh helped restrict Uttar
Pradesh on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at Green
Park in Kanpur on Saturday. UP, 206 for three overnight in reply to
Hyderabad's first innings total of 291, were all out for
362. Hyderabad in their second innings had just about wiped off the
first innings deficit by scoring 72 for one by close of play.
The in form NP Singh struck an early vital blow when he bowled Md
Kaif. The India batsman was out without adding to his overnight score
of 66. The other overnight batsman skipper Gyanendra Pandey went on to
make 47 before he was bowled by Kanwaljit Singh. Pandey faced 98 balls
and hit seven fours. The innings was kept going by a seventh wicket
partnership of 46 runs off 22 overs between wicketkeeper Pradip Yadav
(20) and Ashish Winston Zaidi (52). But the persistent Kanwaljit Singh
then took three wickets late in the innings to keep the UP lead down
to manageable proportions. Zaidi faced 96 balls and hit six fours
before he was also one of Kanwaljit's victims. He finished with six
for 97 off 48.2 overs.
When Hyderabad batted a second time, they lost Manohar (14) at 29. But
A Nandakishore (35) and VVS Laxman (20) by watchful batting added 43
runs off 18.3 overs and were unbeaten at stumps with the match
tantalisingly poised.
Full postTamil Nadu regain control with late wickets
Just as Punjab were putting up a gallant fightback in their second innings, Tamil Nadu grabbed two wickets late in the day to place themselves in a commanding position at stumps on the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MA
Partab Ramchand
01-Apr-2000
Just as Punjab were putting up a gallant fightback in their second
innings, Tamil Nadu grabbed two wickets late in the day to place
themselves in a commanding position at stumps on the third day of
their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MA Chidambaram stadium in
Chennai on Saturday.
In arrears by 203 runs on the first innings, Punjab's openers Vikram
Rathour and Reetinder Singh Sodhi put on 126 runs off 40.5 overs. Just
when it looked like the two would come in unbeaten at stumps, Sodhi
was caught behind by Reuben Paul off Mahesh for 89. Sodhi, the more
aggressive of the two, faced 146 balls and hit ten fours. Wicketkeeper
H Jagnu, sent in as a night watchman, was run out in the following
over for zero. By that time however the light was bad and play was
called off with 11.4 overs still to be bowled. Punjab, at 127 for two,
still have a lot of work ahead.
Early morning showers meant that play started 75 minutes late. Then
further rain saw to it that 12 minutes play was lost shortly before
lunch. Tamil Nadu, 346 for five overnight, were all out about an hour
after the break. Sridharan Sriram was finally out for 165, caught by
Mongia off Harbhajan Singh. He batted 509 minutes, faced 278 balls and
hit 12 fours. The off spinner then dismissed Sadagopan Mahesh first
ball. But the Tamil Nadu tail wagged. First Rajath Bhatia (24) and
Reuben Paul (32) added 27 runs for the ninth wicket. This was followed
by a last wicket partnership of 47 runs off 13 overs between Paul and
J Gokulakrishnan (21 not out). Harbhajan Singh who bowled very well
was rewarded with five wickets for 106 runs.
Rathour and RS Sodhi brought Punjab back into the game with their
century first wicket partnership. But the fall of two quick wickets
late in the day saw Tamil Nadu regain the whiphand. Rathour by close
however was unbeaten with a defiant 37 off 101 balls with four hits to
the ropes. Play was extended by more than a hour and a half to make up
the loss due to the rain. But bad light ultimately halted play at 6.10
pm.
Full postCFX Academy take clear advantage after 2 days
In a shortened second day's play a Country Club, when just under three hours were possible, the CFX Academy took a clear advantage in the match, but found their hopes of reaching next week's final slipping away
John Ward
01-Apr-2000
LOGAN CUP REPORT: CFX ACADEMY v MATABELELAND, Day 2
By John Ward
In a shortened second day's play a Country Club, when just under
three hours were possible, the CFX Academy took a clear advantage
in the match, but found their hopes of reaching next week's final
slipping away. At the close they were 59 runs ahead with three
first-innings wickets still intact.
Heavy overnight rain left the Country Club field soaked, and
despite a sunny day the start had to be delayed until 3pm, with
tea taken early. The field was still slippery in places, but the
players were keen to get moving. With the news that Mashonaland
had massacred Midlands on a sub-standard pitch at Harare Sports
Club, the position became clear for the Academy: they needed to
score 300 runs and also win the match outright in order to reach
the final against Manicaland. If 300 became impossible, Strang
said he would declare and 'make a game of it' with Matabeleland.
Full postSriram makes a meal of the Punjab attack
An invaluable unbeaten 155 (258 balls, 20 fours) by Sridharan Sriram took Tamil Nadu to the imposing position of 346/5 at the end of the second day of their Ranji Trophy quarter final against Punjab at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today
Sankhya Krishnan
31-Mar-2000
An invaluable unbeaten 155 (258 balls, 20 fours) by Sridharan Sriram
took Tamil Nadu to the imposing position of 346/5 at the end of the
second day of their Ranji Trophy quarter final against Punjab at the
MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today. Sriram's fifth century of the
season also took his Ranji tally past the thousand mark this season in
his seventh match. Resuming at 40/0, Tamil Nadu made 306 runs in the
90 overs bowled during the day.
After Sadagopan Ramesh had fallen to RP Singh in the third over of the
day without adding to his overnight score of 18, Sriram and Hemang
Badani added 150 for the second wicket to virtually shut out Punjab on
the first innings. Badani was let off on 13, when he pulled Sandeep
Sharma and the ensuing top edge went through the glove tips of a
leaping wicket keeper Harminder Jugnu.
But the other more critical life was when Sriram, then on 38, dropped
the ball down the wicket, set off, and was sent back by Badani. The
bowler, Sodhi, in a remarkable display of athleticism, swooped down
and underarmed the ball onto the stumps as the batsman dived back in,
but umpire Ranade was not impressed. Badani made 70 from 147 balls
before he guided off spinner Sharandeep Singh staight into the hands
of captain Vikram Rathour at slip. His knock comprised of eleven hits
to the fence, with his favourite stroke being the front foot drive on
the rise through the covers.
But the most fascinating contest was between Harbhajan and Sriram. The
Punjab offie crowded Sriram with two slips and a gully and tried to
entice him to hit against the spin into the vacant area on the on
side. Sriram played and missed the sweep shot more than once and he
was also drawn towards one that turned and bounced outside off, which
just went wide of second slip. He learnt his lesson and then preferred
to get to the pitch of the ball aand smother the spin rather than wait
for it. When Sriram went up to 99, the field was brought up, but he
calmly drove Sodhi through the covers for a couple to bring up the
landmark of f 163 balls and with 12 fours.
Full postLethal Lee puts Australia in front
Australia's bowling find of the summer, Brett Lee, picked up his second five-wicket bag in just five tests as New Zealand followed their familiar pattern of early collapse, mid order recovery and late disintegration on the first day of the third test
Chris Rosie
31-Mar-2000
Australia's bowling find of the summer, Brett Lee, picked up his second
five-wicket bag in just five tests as New Zealand followed their familiar
pattern of early collapse, mid order recovery and late disintegration on the
first day of the third test at Hamilton.
New Zealand were all out for 232 after being 53 for 4 at one stage.
Australia finished the day on 4 for the loss of one wicket. Craig McMillan
led the afternoon resurrection while Shayne O'Connor got the obligatory late
Australian wicket.
Steve Waugh won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat on a pitch that
looked well-prepared for a five-day match. New Zealand left Bruce Martin,
the left-arm spin replacement for Daniel Vettori, out of their playing XI.
They included the Northern Districts pace bowler Daryl Tuffey for his first
test, playing it on his home ground.
Australia made one change to their winning side, replacing an out-of-form
Greg Blewett with Matthew Hayden.
Full postYadav, Kaif help UP seize initiative on Day 2
Half centuries from Jyoti Yadav and Mohammed Kaif took Uttar Pradesh within hopping distance of the first innings lead at the end of the second day of their Ranji Trophy quarter final match against Hyderabad at the Green Park in Kanpur today
31-Mar-2000
Half centuries from Jyoti Yadav and Mohammed Kaif took Uttar Pradesh
within hopping distance of the first innings lead at the end of the
second day of their Ranji Trophy quarter final match against Hyderabad
at the Green Park in Kanpur today. Having bowled out the visitors for
291, UP had progressed to 206/3 from 76 overs at stumps.
Three successive half century partnerships in the UP innings put them
firmly on course to overtake Hyderabad's none too imposing
total. Yadav and Mohammed Saif put on 69 for the first wicket before
Saif was trapped in front of the wicket by Vanka Pratap for 18. Yadav
then added exactly fifty for the second wicket with Kaif before
Kanwaljit Singh dismissed him for 61 (127 balls, 9 fours). And then
Kaif and Rizwan Shamshad continued the good work with a workmanlike 59
run partnership for the third wicket. At stumps captain Gyanendra
Pandey (18) was holding the fort along with Kaif. The latter was
unbeaten on a stolid 66 off 169 balls, that included three boundaries.
Earlier Hyderabad added another 45 runs to their overnight tally of
246 /8 before they folded up for 291 thirteen overs into the day. VVS
Laxman was ninth out for 128 (263 balls, 13 fours and a six), castled
by Ashish Zaidi with the score at 268. NP Singh and Kanwaljit Singh
then put on a further 23 for the last wicket before Zaidi bowled NP
Singh for good measure to finish with figures of 3/70.
Full postAcademy has better of Day 1
Thanks to some rather disappointing Matabele batting, the CFX Academy could claim to have had rather the better of the first day's play between the two teams at Country Club in Harare today
John Ward
31-Mar-2000
Thanks to some rather disappointing Matabele batting, the CFX Academy could claim
to have had rather the better of the first day's play between the two teams at
Country Club in Harare today. Although Matabeleland fought back well with the
ball after their dismissal for 176, a promising third-wicket partnership was in
progress when play came to a premature close with the Academy on 62 for two in
reply.
The match is being played on the new part of the square, and Paul Strang, winning
the toss for the Academy, decided to bat first mainly because he was unsure of
how it would play. It generally proved trustworthy, although several balls from
one end did keep low. Matabeleland were missing captain Mark Abrams, for
personal reasons, so Mark Vermeulen again took over the leadership. John Rennie
had still not recovered from his injury and Paul Brown was omitted; Matthew
Townshend and Shaun Commerford returned, while left-arm spinner Keith Dabengwa
made his first-class debut.
Charles Coventry and Wisdom Siziba opened in their usual way for Matabeleland,
the former going for his strokes while the latter held his end up. Siziba fell
in the fourth over without scoring, however, adjudged lbw to a good ball from
Gregg Haakonsen. For a while Coventry and Vermeulen kept the runs flowing, but
when the Academy tightened up their bowling and put back their fielders runs were
harder to come by. The Academy attack soon lost Jason Young, who strained his
foot while bowling his fifth over and was forced to leave the field. Vermeulen
it seems has a habit of losing patience when tied down, and he duly cut a ball
from Haakonsen straight to Vaughan-Davies at backward point to be caught for 19.
Coventry appeared to be heading for a maiden first-class fifty, playing some
lovely drives, but he too seemed to become impatient when the runs did not flow,
and on 42 he drove a low return catch that was smartly held by Douglas Hondo.
Two batsmen had settled in but given their wickets away without going on to a
major score. Dion Ebrahim and Senyo Nyakutse settled in until lunch, when the
score was 84 for three (Ebrahim 9, Nyakutse 5).
Full postSpirited Waqar takes Pakistan to 16 run victory
As they say, when it rains, it pours
Anand Vasu
31-Mar-2000
As they say, when it rains, it pours. Pakistan having got into a
winning frame of mind were unstoppable. In a clinical batting
display followed by some inspired bowling the Pakistanis won the
Coca Cola Cup 2000 by 16 runs.
When Shahid Afridi is at the crease he does not muck around.
Either he is scoring runs or is back in the pavilion. Off late,
he has not spent enough time at the wicket to make a decent
score. However, the shiny batting track that the final was played
on was perfect for Afridi to go for his shots. With no lateral
movement to speak of, Afridi launched himself into drives with
vigour not commonly displayed.
Though the South Africans were as sharp in the field as ever,
there was little they could do as the ball raced through the off
side with regularity. When he flicked the ball past mid wicket to
bring up his fifty off just 46 balls, his joy was obvious for all
to see.
The first to go was Shahid Afridi, attempting to hit Lance
Klusener back over his head for six. The ball went straight up in
the air and Kallis chased after it. Running backwards, Kallis
threw himself full length at the end of running a fair few yards
and pulled off what was easily the best catch of the tournament.
Afridi had made 52.
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