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Scorecard

Dinesh Mongia and Yuvraj Singh carried out the final rituals as North Zone registered a comprehensive seven-wicket win over South Zone in the Duleep Trophy league match at Indore. North Zone thus secured a final berth, and will face Central Zone on March 8 at Nagpur. Resuming on 4 for 0, North succeeded in chasing the target of 140 within just 23 overs. Yuvraj continued his scintillating form with a 38-ball 60, smashing seven fours and four sixes. He was well supported by Dinesh Mongia, who contributed a steady 52 in 60 balls.North faced a slight hiccup when they lost the top-three batsmen for 46. Then, Yuvraj and Mongia got together to smash a 100 runs and take North past the victory target. The North Zone batsmen were particularly severe on MR Shrinivas, who conceded 61 in 3.5 overs.

The Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation (AACC) has drawn up plans for a six-team, 16-match Under-19 tournament in the Indian port city of Vishakapatnam. The competition, featuring teams from India, Pakistan. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa and Zimbabwe, will be held from November 19 -27, 2005, and will be used as a warm-up competition for next year’s U19 World Cup.Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Asian Cricket Council and chairman of AACC, explained the rationale behind the tournament. “Afro-Asian Cricket Cooperation is a regional body formed by the Africa Cricket Association and the Asian Cricket Council to support the development activities of its members across both continents,” he said. “The recent Standard Chartered Afro-Asia Cup was the AACC’s first tournament venture. An A Team tournament, featuring the players on the brink of selection for the Test and ODI teams, is scheduled to be held early in 2006.”Peter Chingoka, president of the Africa Cricket Association said: “These kinds of player-formative exercises are very much part of what the AACC aims to promote over the next few years.”The U19 World Cup will be held in Sri Lanka in February 2006. “Our cricketers all have ambitions to play at the highest level,” said Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa’s chief executive. “Age-group tournaments such as these in different conditions against their cricketing peers can only help them on their way to the top.””It’s important that players get as much exposure as possible to top competition and different conditions,” said KK Haridas, ACC events executive. “Vishakapatnam will provide a close approximation to what the U19 players will encounter in Sri Lanka.”In a joint statement, Hoosain Ayob and Sultan Rana, the development managers of Africa and Asia respectively, affirmed that “Alongside Africa’s and Asia’s existing development activities, these high-profile events are welcome additions. The scale and scope of our development program through the support of the AACC, to boost the efforts of all our members will be substantial”.The tournament will feature three matches a day, beginning with Pakistan v Sri Lanka, India v Bangladesh and South Africa v Zimbabwe, and two rest days between qualifying matches before the final on Sunday, November 27.

Preparations have already got underway for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA), the construction of a brand-new stadium in Guyana is set to begin in April.Guyana is one of the eight Caribbean countries that won the bid to host the World Cup, and one of the primary requirements is for each representative to have a stadium that is up to international standards. At present, all international cricket in Guyana is played at the venerable Bourda ground in Georgetown, which is currently one of the largest stadia in the region, but has been deemed too outmoded for such a showcase event. The new ground is expected to have a seating capacity of 15,000 to 20,000.Four Indian companies have shown interest in the construction of the stadium, and two of these submitted their bids on February 1. Both companies, Lawson Turbo and Sha-Poor-Gi Pat-Lon-Ji, were in Guyana in December to conduct assessments and their initial estimated cost is US$25 million.The press release further stated that the amount will be obtained through a US$6 million grant from the Government of India, and a US$19 million loan from the Exim Bank of India. Both companies have the required experience in building stadia in and outside of India

Australians 151 for 1 (Langer 79*, Hayden 61) are level with Zimbabwe A 151 (Sibanda 48, Gillespie 4-25)
Scorecard

The Australians cruised through the first day of their two-day warm-up game in Harare, bowling out for Zimbabwe A for 151 then finishing up level, reaching the total for the loss of only one wicket before bad light brought an early close.Zimbabwe A struggled against the probable Australian Test attack. Jason Gilespie was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, but Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne took two apiece, and there was a welcome comeback wicket for Glenn McGrath, who nipped one through the opener Eric Chauluka’s defences in the first over. McGrath looked spritely in his 11 overs, and finished with 1 for 23.Only Vusi Sibanda, the Test opener, resisted the Aussies for long, making 48 before he was trapped lbw by Warne’s fellow Victorian legspinner Cameron White. Sibanda and Wisdom Sibiza (22) put on 69 for the second wicket – but after they were separated the last eight wickets tumbled for 56.When the Australians replied Justin Langer, who hit 11 fours, and Matthew Hayden put on 138 untroubled runs for the first wicket before Hayden swung Rangarirayi Manyande to deep square leg.The Australians are rotating 13 members of their squad in this match, which is not first-class.

Whenever Glenn McGrath and Sachin Tendulkar come across each other on acricket pitch, things tend to happen. And it was no different on Friday,with McGrath’s very first delivery to his fellow legend providing for theday’s main talking point. Pitched short, it tempted Tendulkar into thepull, but he was too early on the stroke. The ball brushed his shoulderand ricocheted behind the stumps to Brad Haddin and theAustralian close-in fielders went up in appeal. After a moment’sthought, and to Tendulkar’s stupefaction, Mark Benson raised his finger.Tendulkar’s reaction was about as animated as he ever gets on a cricketfield, and it perhaps implanted the first seeds of doubt in Benson’s mind.And while Tendulkar trudged towards the pavilion slowly, he decided toconsult with his colleague, Asad Rauf. Once Rauf gave his opinion, Bensondecided that it was better to look silly than give the wrong decision, andto his credit, he recalled the batsman.While McGrath smiled ruefully and walked back to his mark, Ricky Pontingwas livid. Forgetting the fact that the umpire is well within his rightsto reverse a decision (Law 27.9), Ponting shared more than a few words, and it willbe interesting to see what view the match referee takes at the end of thegame. After his latest outburst against West Indies, Cricket Australia hadcome down hard on him, aware that the next offence would invite amultiple-game ban.The Tendulkar incident wasn’t the only topic of debate either. Haddin hadmade only two when Rudra Pratap Singh’s throw to Harbhajan Singh appearedto catch him several feet short of the crease. Haddin looked to be walkingoff to the pavilion when Benson decided to clarify whether Harbhajan hadbroken the stumps cleanly with ball in hand. It took several minutes ofreplays to establish that he hadn’t, and the waiting Haddin was thencalled back.While one of the commentators lamented, off the record, about decliningumpiring standards, it must be said that Benson got it right both times.After the umpiring controversies of the past few months it was refreshing to see an official do theright thing, even at the risk of having his competence called intoquestion.

KwaZulu-Natal went top of the Super Sixes table, thanks to the first-innings bonus points they captured against Western Province. And Maurice Aronstam ground out a nine-and-a-half-hour double-century for Northerns against Boland:Super Sixes – 3rd day:Western Province 311 and 287 for 3 (Bassage 61, Ferreira 100,Prince 75*) lead KwaZulu-Natal 332 by 266 runs
ScorecardA first-innings deficit of 21 was quickly wiped out after Western Province bowled KwaZulu-Natal out for 332 at Newlands. Natal nonetheless collected enough bonus points to go to the top of the table. A far more docile pitch awaited the WP batsmen today, and they put on 287 for 3 before stumps was drawn. Derrin Bassage helped himself to 61, Lloyd Ferreira passed 3000 first-class runs in the course of his hundred, and Ashwell Prince, back from international duties in New Zealand, was left not out on 75. WP are 266 ahead, and we could be in for a close finish tomorrow.Free State 267 and 139 for 3 (Liebenberg 72) lead North West349 (Jacobs 164) by 57 runs
ScorecardDavey Jacobs must know every blade of grass at Potchefstroom’s North West Stadium after spending six hours at the crease for his 164, which helped his side to a lead of 82. Free State, batting for a second time, ended the day on 139 for 3 after Gerry Liebenberg put together a neat 72. Bad light once again brought an early end to proceedings – bad news for Free State, who need a win to stay in touch with the leaders.Shield – 2nd day:Northerns 451 for 7 dec (Aronstam 201*, Groeneveld 4-49) lead Boland 97 for 4 by 354 runs
ScorecardMaurice Aronstam, 23, marked only his second first-class appearance with a masterful double-century as Northerns amassed 451 for 7 at Boland Park. His marathon innings took nine and a half hours, and he hit 19 fours and four sixes. Aronstam and Pierre Joubert (48*) equalled Northerns’ eighth-wicketpartnership record of 131*, set by Neville Alistoun and Trevor Rolfe against Natal B at Berea Park, Pretoria, in 1968-69. With Alfonso Thomas taking three wickets, Boland struggled to 97 for 4 by the close, still 354 behind.Gauteng 34 for 1 v Eastern Province
ScorecardOnly half-an-hour’s play yesterday … and none at all at the Wanderers today as overnight rain and persistent showers forced an abandonment.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami has been ruled out of the forthcoming home series against Bangladesh with an ankle injury. Sami twisted his ankle playing for Kent and is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.”Sami will be returning home soon to start treatment on his injury," explained Samiul Hasan, a spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board. "Although his contract [with Kent] was until August 10, he was available for the Bangladesh series.”Sami’s absence further weakens the side, with Shoaib Akhtar already haven been given permission to miss the series to enable him to fulfill his county commitments with Durham. However, even an inexperienced Pakistan should have few problems in overcoming Bangladesh.

Gloucestershire have announced that Ian Harvey will not be returning to the club next season. Harvey, who has been a key part in their one-day success for the past five years, rejected a new contract offer, saying, “I wish to take time to consider my future over the autumn and winter and may well take a break next summer.”Harvey was the Man of the Match in this year’s Cheltenham & Gloucester final in which Gloucestershire thumped Worcestershire by seven wickets. But after the game he hinted that he may not be coming back next summer among rumours of a change around at the club. He said, “If they want to go in a different direction, that’s fine. I have no idea if I’ll be back.”However, speaking today, he has not ruled out a return to county cricket: “Should I decide to play county cricket next season then I do feel I need a fresh challenge.”Tom Richardson, Gloucestershire’s chief executive, said: “We made Ian the best offer we could and we are extremely disappointed that he will not be continuing with us. However, being an allrounder all year round is extremely demanding and also we do understand if he needs the impetus of a new challenge. He has played magnificently for us on numerous occasions and we are extremely grateful to him for all he has done for the club.”Harvey follows John Bracewell, the coach, and Jonty Rhodes, their other overseas player, out of the door. Bracewell is to coach New Zealand while Rhodes has announced he will retire from first-class cricket at the end of the English season.

Cricket Australia has agreed to postpone the Pura Cup game between the Victorian Bushrangers and the South Australian Redbacks in view of the tragic death of David Hookes yesterday. Both teams had requested that the match – which was scheduled to start on January 23 at the MCG – be moved back, and Cricket Australia took note, rearranging the fixture for February 8 at the same venue.The decision was taken as a mark of respect to Hookes and his family, and also in recognition of his iconic status in both camps. Hookes made his name as a hard-hitting batsman with South Australia, and as coach, he had led the Bushrangers to the top of the Pura Cup standings this season.The Redbacks were expected to return to Adelaide on Wednesday.

Yorkshire CCC have today announced that they have slashed admission prices for their 3 home Twenty20 Cup Matches on 14th, 20th and 24th June.Adults will be admitted for only £2 and children U16 will have free entry when accompanied by an adult.To encourage more Cricket in the Community the Club are offering free tickets to all schools in Yorkshire via the Cricket Development Officers. Any school wishing to participate should contact Howard Clayton at the Yorkshire Cricket Board in the Yorkshire Cricket Centre on 0113 2033610 or [email protected]