World Cricket Round-up (17 March 1999)

Hansie Cronje, South Africa's captain has admitted he was prepared to sacrifice a Test to give his top order batting practice following a second disappointing draw on the tour of New Zealand

17-Mar-1999

17 March 1999

World Cricket Round-up

The Electronic Telegraph

Cronje says practice is in order

Nelson Clare in Christchurch

Hansie Cronje, South Africa's captain has admitted he was prepared to sacrifice a Test to give his top order batting practice following a second disappointing draw on the tour of New Zealand.

"In the bigger picture, if you look at a guy like Herschelle Gibbs, who scored a magnificent 200, then I think you can sacrifice one Test," Cronje said. "Not that I'm saying we did, but we can sacrifice a Test just to get something like that going in our top six."

Gibbs, the first non-white South African to score a Test hundred, reached 211 not out at Lancaster Park as Cronje delayed a declaration in the rain-hit match, a decision that may have cost his team a win.

Clifford Ratwatte, the uncle of Sri Lanka president Chandrika Kumaratunga, yesterday announced his candidacy for president of the country's cricket board and sparked a controversy since he is ineligible to stand.

To become eligible, Ratwatte received an exemption by sports minister S B Dissaanayake from a rule barring those who had not played first-class cricket from seeking elected positions with the board. "If elected I will take steps to remove that absurd requirement," Ratwatte said.

Half-centuries by Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed lifted Pakistan to a 152-run victory against Bangladesh in a one-day international in Dhaka.

One-day International (Dhaka)

Pakistan 293-7 (50 overs, Saeed Anwar 64, Ijaz Ahmed 51, Inzaman-ul-Haq 70).

Bangladesh 141 (40.5 overs). Pakistan won by 152 runs.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)