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West Indies Domestic: Semi finals - here we come!
The Leeward Islands cricket team made it up to their fans this weekend as they romped to a innings victory over a strong Jamaican team at the Antigua Recreation Ground
Zach Kenworthy
08-Feb-2000
The Leeward Islands cricket team made it up to their fans this weekend as
they romped to a innings victory over a strong Jamaican team at the Antigua
Recreation Ground. The Jamaicans fielded nine players who had played for the
West Indies at some point in their career and a wicket keeper who had
already played for the West Indies `A' team. To say that this was a
tremendous victory for the Leewards would be an understatement.
Upon winning the toss, Leewards captain, Ridley Jacobs placed his opponents
in to bat on a wicket that was sure to aid his pacers early on. The decision
proved to be decisive as the mighty jamaicans were skittled out for just
153. Only Robert Samuels (45) and Ricardo Powell (38) managed to put
together substantial scores as star West Indian pacer Curtley Ambrose reeked
havoc on his home ground. Ambrose's figures of 22 overs, 16 maidens, 4 for
15 proved that he is still one of the greatest class acts around. Fellow
pacer Carl Tuckett also chipped in with 3 for 32.
In reply, the Leewards displayed their immense natural ability that has
been so rarely seen by their fans recently. After opener, Anguillian Alex
Adams was caught, driving off the bowling of Franklyn Rose for just 17,
Wilden Cornwall (70) and young Sylvester `Bouncin' Joseph (32) put together
a 94 run partnership that stabalised the top order. However, the performer
performed again. Courtney Walsh was able to get the breakthrough as he had
Joseph playing on to his stumps. A flurry of quick wickets brought together
21 year -old Runako Morton (110) and Ambrose (33) who shared in a 105 run
partnership. It proved to be the highlight of the match as young Morton
scored his maiden first class hundred. He mixed aggression with patience and
displayed a fine array of strokes around the ground. His only scare was when
he was missed stumped by Sinclair when he was on 99. A mistake that Morton
will not want to repeat. Ambrose alerted his fans that he was still more
then useful with the bat as the Leewards amassed 338 all out. Both Walsh and
Laurie Williams claimed three scalps.
Facing a deficit of 185 was not going to be easy against a fired up Leeward
Islands side that was hungry for a birth in the semi finals. The all pace
attack of the Leewards proved too much for the Jamaicans to handle as they
were bowled out, yet again, under 200 for just 139. Antiguan Kerry Jeremy
celebrated his 20th birthday with fine figures of 5 for 40. It was his first
five-wicket hall in first class cricket and will definitely not be his last.
Only Laurie Williams batted valiantly as he put together 50 before he was
caught and bowled by Tuckett. Ambrose again ended with miserly figures of 13
overs, 2 for 7.
Full postHyderabad earn honourable draw
Hyderabad comfortably held Punjab to a draw on the final day of their Group B Ranji Trophy Super league match at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Tuesday, thanks in no small measure to `birthday boy' Md Azharuddin
08-Feb-2000
Hyderabad comfortably held Punjab to a draw on the final day of their
Group B Ranji Trophy Super league match at the PCA stadium in Mohali
on Tuesday, thanks in no small measure to `birthday boy' Md
Azharuddin. The former Indian captain, who turned 37 today, hit an
unbeaten 63 as Hyderabad, 246 runs in arrears on the first innings,
finished with 244 for three off 93 overs in their second
innings. Punjab got five points and Hyderabad three.
There was some pressure on Hyderabad as they resumed on the final
morning at 15 for no loss, given the fact that they had been shot out
for 117 in their first innings. But Hyderabad proved that the debacle
was only a minor aberration. Openers P Satwalkar (53) and A
Nandakishore (35) gave them a sound start putting on 89 runs off 31.5
overs. Satwalkar, the more aggressive of the two, batted 2-1/2 hours,
faced 103 balls and hit eight fours. The more obdurate Nandakishore
was second out at 115 after batting 194 minutes, facing 120 balls and
hitting five fours.
Building upon this good start, Md Azharuddin and Vinay Kumar added 104
runs for the third wicket off 34.3 overs. Vinay Kumar matched his more
accomplished partner in run production and by the time he was out for
67, compiled off 141 balls and inclusive of ten hits to the ropes, the
match was virtually saved. Azharuddin batted right through to the end
and for his unbeaten 63, he faced 153 balls and hit eight fours. MV
Sridhar who kept him company in the closing stages, faced 49 balls and
batted 50 minutes without opening his account. The Punjab captain
Vikram Rathour tried eight bowlers to no avail.
Full postDelhi gain first innings points
Not unexpectedly, the Group A Ranji Trophy Super League match between Delhi and Rajasthan ended in a tame draw at the Ferozshah Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Tuesday
08-Feb-2000
Not unexpectedly, the Group A Ranji Trophy Super League match
between Delhi and Rajasthan ended in a tame draw at the
Ferozshah Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Tuesday. A draw was
the only possible result after the first day's play had been
washed out but Delhi managed to take first innings points as Rajasthan were bowled out for 311 in reply to the home team's
453 for nine declared. Delhi got five points and Rajasthan three.
Play on the final day started at 11.15 due to fog and bad light.
Rajasthan resumed at 134 for one and their hopes were sustained
by valuable knocks by Rahul Kanwat (52) and P.Krishnakumar (39).
In fact at 306 for five, the teams seemed set to share three
points each. But in form medium pacer Amit Bhandari came up
with a destructive spell in the last session and Rajasthan
lost their last five wickets for five runs in 6.1 overs.
Kanwat faced 106 balls and hit six fours while Krishnakumar
faced 112 balls and hit five of them to the ropes. Bhandari
finished with four wickets for 87 runs.
Full postAustralia regain the Rose Bowl
The Australian women's team asserted their place alongside their male counterparts as the number one team in their sport, following their sixwicket victory over New Zealand at the Albert Cricket Ground in Melbourne today
Rick Eyre
08-Feb-2000
The Australian women's team asserted their place alongside their male
counterparts as the number one team in their sport, following their sixwicket victory over New Zealand at the Albert Cricket Ground in Melbourne
today.
The win ensured that Australia claimed an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the threematch series over the only team who could be considered a serious rival to
their quest for the World Cup this coming December. The win, Australia's
sixth in six one-day internationals in the past eleven days, means that the
Rose Bowl - women's cricket's answer to rugby union's Bledisloe Cup -
returns to Australian soil.
New Zealand squandered a good opening stand of 81 in 21.2 overs to finish on
8/166. Australia scored the required 167 for the loss of just four wickets
and 22 balls to spare.
Debbie Hockley, who today became the first woman to appear in 100 one-day
internationals, picked up from where she left off on Sunday, dominating the
batting and taking the attack to the Australian bowlers. She blasted Therese
McGregor out of the attack after taking four boundaries off her third over.
The first wicket fell when Kate Pulford (27) was run out, the third run out
of the series in which Hockley was involved.
Full postOverwhelming victory for Baroda
Baroda translated their overwhelming superiority over Bihar into victory by an innings and 114 runs with a day to spare in their Group B match of the Ranji Trophy Super League at the IPCL sports complex ground in Baroda on Monday
07-Feb-2000
Baroda translated their overwhelming superiority over Bihar into victory by an innings and 114 runs with a day to spare in their Group B match of the Ranji Trophy Super League at the IPCL sports complex ground in Baroda on Monday.
An innings victory for the home team was always on the cards after Bihar had had a bad day at the office on the second day. After following on 380 runs behind, Bihar who resumed at 74 for three were all out for 266 on Monday.
There was never much chance of Bihar saving the game but some of their batsmen did make an attempt. Opener Nikhilesh Ranjan hit a gallant 72. He faced 172 balls and hit nine fours. He and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (45) added 84 runs for the fourth wicket off 22 overs. Then Mihir Diwakar, coming in at No 7, hit a breezy 67. He faced just 53 balls and hit four fours and six sixes. But the rest of the batsmen were no match for Zaheer Khan who took five for 67 to finish with match figures of ten for 110.
Full postWest Indies Domestic: Bajans pull it off
Barbados (196 & 249) beat Trinidad and Tobago (283 & 161) by one run
Haydn Gill
07-Feb-2000
Barbados (196 & 249) beat Trinidad and Tobago (283 & 161) by one
run.
Port-Of-Spain - The heart-beats were as rapid as the rhythms of the
Carnival 2000 road march contenders.
The sweat was running down the arm-pits profusely; the fingernails
were being bitten by the second.
Such was the intensity of the moment yesterday.
Full postTamil Nadu too strong for Saurashtra
It was easier than expected as Tamil Nadu wrapped up their Group C encounter against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy Super League at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Monday by an innings and 26 runs with more than a day to spare
07-Feb-2000
It was easier than expected as Tamil Nadu wrapped up their Group C encounter against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy Super League at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Monday by an innings and 26 runs with more than a day to spare.
Even though Tamil Nadu were in a position of some strength at stumps on the second day, few would have thought that the match would be over on the third day itself. But the hosts' dominance was complete. It started with Saurashtra, 189 for five overnight in reply to Tamil Nadu's first innings total of 471, being all out for 217. Saurashtra, at 204 for five seemed well set to make a fitting reply. But the last five wickets fell for the addition of only 13 runs in 6.2 overs. Hitesh Parsana held firm and remained unbeaten with 54 at the end of the innings. He faced 94 balls and hit nine fours and a six. But the tail was simply swept aside by J Gokulakrishna. The medium pacer took the last four wickets off 14 balls to finish with five for 42. Sadagopan Mahesh took three for 57.
Following on 254 runs behind, Saurashtra fared only a little better in their second innings. Mahesh took two quick wickets as Saurashtra were 20 for two. Then opener Vasanth Kumar (28) and PJ Bhatt (88) added 68 runs for the third wicket off 19.5 overs. Then off spinner Aashish Kapoor got among the wickets as Saurashtra slid to 113 for five. But Bhatt and Parsana (36) added 66 runs for the sixth wicket off just 7.4 overs before the latter was out. Bhatt was ninth out for a gallant 88. He faced 137 balls and hit 15 fours. The inevitable defeat was delayed for some time with the last two batsmen Narendrasinh Rana (37) and Rajesh Garsondia (4 not out) adding 33 runs off four overs. Rana slammed two fours and four sixes in his 29 ball knock. Kapoor, despite being expensive, picked up five wickets for 85 runs from 17 overs while Mahesh finished with four for 61. Saurashtra were all out for 228, giving Tamil Nadu eight points.
Full postMumbai thrash Karnataka by an innings
It is not very often that the reigning champions lose a match by an innings and 74 runs with more than a day to spare
07-Feb-2000
It is not very often that the reigning champions lose a match by an
innings and 74 runs with more than a day to spare. But that was the
ignominous defeat that Karnataka suffered at the hands of Mumbai in
their Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match at the M Chinnaswamy
stadium in Bangalore on Monday.
Mumbai, oft crowned champions in the National competition, had
dominated from the first day itself but hardly anyone would have
expected Karnataka to cave in so meekly. If they were outplayed over
the first two days, little went right for the home team on the third
day. In the morning Jatin Paranjpe, 93 overnight, reached his century
and was then out for 107. He faced 189 balls and hit 15 fours. The
last two batsmen Nilesh Kulkarni (19) and Abhey Kuruvilla however
added 55 runs off 13.2 overs to take Mumbai's total to 391 and swell
their lead to 182. Kuruvilla was very much the dominant partner and
hit four fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 37 for which he faced 48
balls. Sunil Joshi who took the last wicket finished with a haul of
five for 126.
Karnataka's second innings was a disaster from start to finish.
Kuruvilla, in his first over, sent back the consistent Arun Kumar and
that was virtually the beginning of the end. Only two batsmen, opener
Mithun Beerala (34) and Dodda Ganesh (26) reached double digits as
Kannan (2 for 34) and Kuruvilla (5 for 32) ripped through the batting.
Joshi, who was hurt, did not bat and the best stand was the 35 runs
that Ganesh and Mansur Ali Khan (9 not out) put on for the ninth
(last) wicket. Thanks to this association, Karnataka were able to top
the three figure mark and ultimately totalled 108. It was a most
impressive start by Mumbai who picked up eight points.
Full postMinhas' century helps Delhi to imposing total
Rajasthan, with a score of 134 for one, had made a fitting reply to Delhi's 453 for nine declared at stumps on the third day of their Group A Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Ferozshah Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Monday
07-Feb-2000
Rajasthan, with a score of 134 for one, had made a fitting reply
to Delhi's 453 for nine declared at stumps on the third day of
their Group A Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Ferozshah
Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Monday.
Mithun Minhas' splendid unbeaten 102 helped Delhi, who were 279
for five overnight, reach their imposing total. Minhas, who
resumed at 16, batted 225 minutes, faced 149 balls and hit eleven
fours and a six. Vijay Dahiya (26) helped him add 65 runs for the
sixth wicket off 21 overs and then the tailenders Amit Bhandari
(28) and S Gill (20) supported Minhas in partnerships of 58 for
the eighth wicket off 11.2 overs and 46 for the ninth wicket off
7.5 overs respectively.
When Rajasthan batted, openers Gagan Khoda (73) and Anshu Jain
(56 not out) put on 131 runs. Khoda was out shortly before close
after facing 112 balls and hitting 10 fours. Jain by close had
faced 120 balls and hit six fours.
Full postRicky's century puts pressure on Hyderabad
Opening batsman Ravneet Ricky, fresh from his exploits for the victorious Indian Under-19 team in Sri Lanka, hit a splendid 134 as Punjab piled on the pressure for Hyderabad at the end of the third day's play in their Group B Ranji Trophy Super
07-Feb-2000
Opening batsman Ravneet Ricky, fresh from his exploits for the victorious Indian Under-19 team in Sri Lanka, hit a splendid 134 as Punjab piled on the pressure for Hyderabad at the end of the third day's play in their Group B Ranji Trophy Super League match at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Monday.
Punjab were already in command at stumps on the second day with a first innings lead of ten runs with eight wickets still in hand. They consolidated their position on Monday, taking their score to 363 for eight before declaring. Hyderabad, 246 runs in arrears, were 15 for no loss at stumps.
Ricky, 50 overnight and Pankaj Dharmani (46) added 90 runs for the third wicket off 34 overs. Then Narendra Pal Singh caused a middle order collapse and at 156 for five, Punjab had lost some ground.
However Ricky continued to bat confidently and first with Harminder Jagnu (32) and then with Sandeep Sharma (68 not out) put Punjab back in command. He and Jagnu added 57 runs for the sixth wicket off 23.1 overs. This was followed by a seventh wicket stand of 99 runs off 31.3 overs between Ricky and Sharma. Ricky was finally out for 134, bowled by Azharuddin. He batted 449 minutes, faced 342 balls and hit 15 fours. At the declaration, Sharma had faced 116 balls and had hit five of them to the ropes. NP Singh finished with five for 69.
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