Report
Cronje establishes batting milestone
Bloemfontein (South Africa) There are those who have loftily accused Hansie Cronje of having the batting technique of an honest journeyman but lacking in flair and then pass on without giving the dismissive comment a second thought
Trevor Chesterfield
31-Oct-1999
Bloemfontein (South Africa) There are those who have loftily accused
Hansie Cronje of having the batting technique of an honest journeyman
but lacking in flair and then pass on without giving the dismissive
comment a second thought. Which is the sort of smug, supercilious
attitude you pick up in the sparsely inhabited bars in this part of
the country: with South Africa booted out of another World Cup event,
and in the semi-finals, looking for someone to blame for the folly of
ineptitude in another sport arena in another hemisphere is a typical
response.
Cronje is his own man, has his own style and it is far better than
most at what he does, his batting has its own style, flair and wealth
in character and it was on display at Goodyear Park yesterday as South
Africa took control of this first Test against Zimbabwe. An innings of
60 not out as South Africa reached 253 for four in reply to the
visitors 192 is, so far, a fair response. Admittedly it is not
now an imposing total and much rests with the South African captain
tomorrow just how far they can stretch their lead of 61. In
partnership with Jonty Rhodes, merrily dancing his way to 24, South
Africas captain will be anxious to plunder a seventh Test century
and lay the foundation to a match-winning total.
It was early in his innings when Cronje became South Africa?s
leading Test run-scorer, beating a record held by Bruce Mitchell of
3471 runs and at the close had advanced his career total to 3525 and
should, at some stage this summer become the first South African to
breach the 4000 mark. So much for the critics
While bad light and the threat of a late afternoon shower or two cut
short play by a mere 4.1 overs and what had been a small Saturday
afternoon crowd had long departed to deposit itself in front of
television sets around the city of roses, hence the term bloem
(flower) to watch their rugby side go the way of most mortals and
plunge towards defeat (?See the tear in my eye, guys.?), the
South African captain indulged in some solid strokeplay. It may not
have been exciting, or pulsating either the way the limited Zimbabwe
attack did their best to strangle their opponents of a more steady run
supply, but there is no doubt it was highly effective. He had already
seen Jacques Kallis depart to a doubtful lbw decision, awarded by New
Zealand?s Steve Dunne for 64, and earlier watched as Daryll
Cullinan gave it away, throttled by negative tactics into cutting too
loosely to Grant Flower off Guy Whittall, Zimbabwe?s all-round hero
who barely 24 hours before had rescued his side from embarrassment.
Full postPakistan snatch first innings lead against Queensland
Queensland scored 274 on the first day of their four-day match against Pakistan on Saturday
Rick Eyre
31-Oct-1999
Queensland scored 274 on the first day of their
four-day match against Pakistan on Saturday. The game, Pakistan's last
before the First Test, is the first first-class match to be played at the
Queensland Cricket Assocation's headquarters at Allan Border Field in
Brisbane.
Queensland captain Stuart Law won the toss and elected to bat on Saturday
morning, with Wade Seccombe resuming his place as wicketkeeper following the
sudden retirement from all levels of cricket of Ian Healy on Thursday. Mohammad
Wasim is in the Pakistan eleven after being hospitalised on Thursday night
with food poisoning, the result of eating a prawn.
Jimmy Maher dominated the morning session, scoring 70 of the 114 runs added
before being the fourth batsman out. Mushtaq Ahmed took three wickets as
Queensland slumped to 5/128 before Andrew Symonds took to the attack.
Symonds brought up his half-century in 59 balls, and hit a total of four
sixes all off the bowling of Mushtaq before being trapped leg before wicket
by Shoaib Akhtar. Symonds, who with his ability to bowl both fast-medium and
off-spin could be seen as an alternative to Colin Miller in the Test side at
some stage this season, scored 78 from 81 balls.
Mushtaq Ahmed staked a claim for a First Test berth taking 4/103 against
Queensland, though he was expensive, conceding runs at the rate of nearly
five an over. Shoaib Akhtar took 2/60.
Full postDelhi scores convincing victory over Haryana
New Delhi, 30 October : A Patient unbeaten 89 by opener Ashu Dani led Delhi to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Haryana in the North Zone Ranji trophy one-dayer match played at Ferozeshah Kotla ground here today
Madhu Sanghi
31-Oct-1999
New Delhi, 30 October : A Patient unbeaten 89 by opener Ashu Dani led
Delhi to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Haryana in the North
Zone Ranji trophy one-dayer match played at Ferozeshah Kotla ground
here today.
After restricting Haryana to a modest 197 for nine in the
stipulated 50 overs, Delhi cruised past the target in the 45th over to
register its second straight win in the league.
Requiring to score at under four runs per over, Delhi got off
to a cautious start through Ashu Dani and Vijay Dahtya.
Thriving on a life he got at an individual score of 11, droped
at backward point by Sono Sharma off Vineet Jain, Dahiya conpleted his
half century before being caught by Rajesh Puri at extra cover off
Sanjay Jakhar. Dani continue the good work hitting four boundaries and
two massive sixes over long-on to a mass 89 not out. Skipper Ajay
Sharma contributed unbeaten 16 runs. Sanjay Jakhar took both the
wickets at the cost of 37 runs.
Full postJammu and Kashmir beat Himachal by 4 wickets.
Chamba 30 October: Allround performance by Ashwani Gupta (30 & 3for 21) and half century knock by Dhruv Mahajan enabled Jammu Kashmir to beat Himachal by four wickets in the second tie of Ranji Trophy one day being played Police Stadium here today
Vinod Saxena
31-Oct-1999
Chamba 30 October: Allround performance by Ashwani Gupta (30 & 3for
21) and half century knock by Dhruv Mahajan enabled Jammu Kashmir to
beat Himachal by four wickets in the second tie of Ranji Trophy one
day being played Police Stadium here today.
Himachal opted to bat and were in deep trouble as their three main
batsman were back in pavilion with just 32 runs on board. Sangram
Singh (34) & Yashwinder Singh (20) repaired the innings to some extent
before Yashwinder Singh was run out in mix up. Rahul Panta (17) and
Arun Verma (26*) also contributed to their team total while no other
batsman played to his potential . Ashwani Gupta was most successful
with his tight off spin bowling as he captured three wickets by giving
away just 21 runs. Sanjay Sharma and Vijay Sharma were another wicket
taker for J&K as both dismissed two batsman each at the cost of 19 &
22 runs respectively.At last Himachal bundled out at a partly total of
runs in 49.5 overs .
Chasing a modest total of 145 runs in 50 overs Jammu Kashmir got two
early jolts as opener Rakesh Gill (4) was trapped in front of wicket
by Shakti Singh and Kanvaljeet (1) was run out at team total of
29. Ranjit Bali (25) and Ashwani Gupta (30) then played with cool
heads and rotated strke occassionly. Himachal new ball bowler Shakti
Singh (2 for 28) and Parveen Sharma bowled extremly well and did not
allow Jammu Kashmir batsman to score freely. Parveen was unlucky to
got any wicket as his deliveries beat the batsmen many times .
Dhruv Mahajan (50) who understood the value of run rate and scored
briskly and hit knock five boundaries and a six in his knock of 82
balls. Vikrant Taggar also contributed 19 not out runs in winning
chase. Jammu Kashmir achieved target in 47.2 overs. Nischal Gaur and
Rahul Panta also got a wicket each.
Full postAgony at ARG
The Final result might not have had anything to do with it
Haydn Gill
31-Oct-1999
The Final result might not have had anything to do with
it. But, from the moment Barbados chose to bat first on winning
the toss in their Red Stripe Bowl opener against the Leeward
Islands yesterday, there was some debate at the Antigua
Recreation Ground (ARG).
That they managed only 120 had little to do with the surface,
and they duly lost the match by four wickets in spite of a
splendid effort in defending their paltry total.
There was tight, containing bowling by Barbados throughout and
the hosts arrived at their target in the 43rd of the 46 overs
available.
Prior to the start, which was delayed by 45 minutes to allow
the groundstaff to finally complete the raking up of an
enormous amount of grass, the general feeling was that the
pitch would be unpredictable.
Full postPunjab routed Services by 109 runs.
Mohali 30 October : Fine Centuries by Vikram Rathore (103) and Reetinder Sodhi (102*) enabled Punjab to beat Services by 109 runs in the second league encounter of their North Zone Ranji Trophy one-day match played at Punjab Cricket Association
Rajesh Arora
31-Oct-1999
Mohali 30 October : Fine Centuries by Vikram Rathore (103) and
Reetinder Sodhi (102*) enabled Punjab to beat Services by 109 runs in
the second league encounter of their North Zone Ranji Trophy one-day
match played at Punjab Cricket Association stadium here today.
Vikram Rathore won the toos and opted to bat first on a flat track.
Sandeep Sharma (20) with his skipper opened the innings. He was caught
at short covers off M.V.Rao at team score of 33. Test discarded Navjot
Sidhu also departed at same total as he was traped in front of wicket
by Rao of very next delivery. Reetinder Sodhi came in at hat-trick and
denied for M.V.Rao. Sodhi and Rathore make the marry of Services
bowlers as they score at will. Rathore while playing 23rd innings of
his 24th Ranji one day match completed his second century. His century
came of 135 balls with the help 10 boundaries and two mighty sixes. He
was caught at mid wicket by Amit Nadkarni off the bowling of Ghag
while trying to acclerate the run rate in last ten overs.
Sodhi also hit a splendid ton for the first time in Ranji one dayers
while playing 11th innings of his 13th match. His unbeaten knock
consisted of four hits to fence in 114 balls. He established his
innings with single and doubles. Rathore and Sodhi were very quick in
wickets as both converted two's into three frequently. This pair added
182 runs for the third wickets in 217 balls. Dinesh Mongia also
contributed quick 20 not out runs in 23 balls. Punjab scored 278 for
the loss of four wickets in 50 overs. M.v.Rao and Sudhakar Ghag
captured two wickets each by giving away 49 and 47 runs respectively.
Chasing a big total Services started off well as opener Narender Singh
(38) and K.K.Dixit (37) added 68 runs for the opening wicket. Left arm
spinner Navdeep Singh who replaced Vineet Sharma give the break
through in his second over as he got Dixit caught at point by
Sodhi.Navdeep Singh and Lakhbir Singh put breaks on Services scoring
as they both bowled a tight line and length. Both captured two wickets
at the cost of 18 and 22 runs respectively. Services batsmen were
never looking in chase as their wickets fell at regular intervals and
their scoring rate was reducing over by over.
Full postHaryana in comfortable position
Rohtak, 30 October: Devastating bowling by pacer Sandeep Mor and half centuries by skipper Satish Ohlan and Maninder Bhola put Haryana in a comfortable position on the opening day of the Cooch Behar Cricket Match against Jammu and Kashmir at
A.Anil Gulati
31-Oct-1999
Rohtak, 30 October: Devastating bowling by pacer Sandeep Mor and half
centuries by skipper Satish Ohlan and Maninder Bhola put Haryana in a
comfortable position on the opening day of the Cooch Behar Cricket Match
against Jammu and Kashmir at Vishwakarma Stadium here today.
After winning the toss Haryana inserted the visitors in to bat first. A
hostile spell of bowling by Sandeep Mor (14-6-25-7).suppoted by Rahul
Rathee (2 for 18) from the other end helped Haryana to pack the Jammu
Kashmir innings at 114 in 45.4 overs. Opener Ankit Khajuria top scored
with 36. Inderjeet Singh and Charanjeet Singh contributed 20 runs
each.No other batsman could reach double figures.
In the remaining 162 minutes Haryana consolidated its position by
wiping out the Jammu Kashmir total at the loss of Praveen Sharma's
wicket. He was adjudged lbw for 8 off the bowling of Rajinder Saini.
Satish Ohlan and Maninder Bhola put on unbeaten 107 runs for the second
wicket to put Haryana in a solid position. At draw of stumps today
Haryana had made 120 for one wicket. Satish Ohlan was batting on 53 (162
minutes,140 balls & 11x4s) where as Maninder Bhola was batting on 52
(148minutes, 107 balls, 8x4s).
Full postSouth Africa building big lead
South Africa are well on the way to amassing a big lead over Zimbabwe in the First Test at Goodyear (formerly Springbok) Park, Bloemfontein
Rick Eyre
30-Oct-1999
South Africa are well on the way to amassing a big lead over Zimbabwe in the
First Test at Goodyear (formerly Springbok) Park, Bloemfontein. After two
days, South Africa are 253 for 4 in their first innings in reply to
Zimbabwe's 192 all out.
With South Africa resuming their first innings on Saturday morning on 29 for
nought, Test debutant Boeta Dippenaar was the first dismissal of the day,
trapped lbw by Henry Olonga for 20. Olonga and Mbangwa kept runs to a
premium in the first hour. Adam Bacher had advanced his score to 42 when he
pushed an Mbangwa delivery to Goodwin at point. Jacques Kallis had scored
three runs from his first 45 balls faced when he trebled his score in one
Bryan Strang over. Kallis played the anchor while Darryl Cullinan found the
Zimbabwean attack easier to despatch. At lunch South Africa were 116/2,
Cullinan (24*) already ahead of Kallis (20*).
Cullinan (27) was dismissed shortly after lunch when Grant Flower took a
brilliant diving catch behind point off the bowling of Guy Whittall. Kallis
and Cronje batted through the remainder of the afternoon session to go to
tea at 183 for 3. Most of the session was unspectacular going, though
Cronje did find the time to score seven boundaries out of his 34 runs, and
to become South Africa's leading all-time run scorer in Tests.
Kallis reached his half-century shortly after tea having faced 175
deliveries. At 64 he was beaten by Guy Whittall and trapped lbw. With
Jonty Rhodes joining his captain at the crease, South Africa ended the day
at 253 for 4 when bad light stopped play twelve minutes early (and whatever
did happen to that playing condition allowing the switching on of
floodlights to enhance failing daylight?). Cronje took his score to 60 for
the innings, and 3525 for his career. Rhodes' 24 not out included the only
six of the match to date, swinging Bryan Strang over mid-wicket.
Full postHaryana held by J & K
Faridabad : Jammu & Kashmir did well to force a draw against Haryana in their opening North Zone Ranji Trophy match here on Wednesday
Madhu Sanghi
28-Oct-1999
Faridabad : Jammu & Kashmir did well to force a draw against Haryana
in their opening North Zone Ranji Trophy match here on Wednesday.
All credit to the J & K batsmen who played patiently to deny Haryana
victory. They resumed at five for one, after being forced to follow
on. Nightwatchman Vijay Sharma (58*) played in obdurate fashion and
frustrated the Haryana bowlers with his defence. He played throughout
the final day's play to help his team to draw the match. He faced 271
balls remained at the wicket for 369 minutes. Amit Pal Singh (35) and
Kanvaljit Singh (25) played admirable supporting roles.
Sanjay Jakhar took two wickets to raise Haryana's hopes but Vijay
Sharma held firm at one end. Haryana also took the new ball after 82
overs with the total 142 for four. But the J & K batsmen held on and
finished with a score of 155 for four in 94 overs. They earned three
points while Haryana claimed five.
Full postSri Lanka A lose first tour match
Potchefstroom: Sri Lanka A lost their first tour match when they opened their five weeks tour with a six-wicket defeat at the North West Stadium by a combined side made up of Free State, North West and Griqualand West players
Trevor Chesterfield
28-Oct-1999
Potchefstroom: Sri Lanka A lost their first tour match when they
opened their five weeks tour with a six-wicket defeat at the North
West Stadium by a combined side made up of Free State, North West and
Griqualand West players.
The three-day game ended late on the final afternoon after the
Combined XI recovered from a poor start to their second innings on
Tuesday. Although their required target was only 94 the Combined XI
slid alarmingly to 37 for four before skipper Nicky Boje steered his
side to victory with an unbeaten 39. With solid support from Glen
Hewitt, Boje went after the Sri Lanka A bowlers as he hammered six
fours and a big six over long-on.
For the Lankans, who recovered for their first innings set back with
TM Dilshan propping up the top-order, it was a far better batting
performance although the North West fast bowler Jannie Dreyer earned
five wickets for 81 to dismiss the tourists for 264.
Dilshan narrowly missed his century when, on 96, he drove wide at a
Dreyer delivery and was caught behind by Wendell Bossenger. Dilshan
was helped by the former Lanka A captain Sajith Fernando with a sound
innings of 55 and all-rounder Nimesh Perera with 44.
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