A staunch Queen’s College supporter left the Cable & Wireless BETSports Complex at 4:45 p.m. yesterday with his chest pushed high.By the time he got to Bridgetown 15 minutes later, it would have takena massive droop.In the space of seven minutes, the Cable & Wireless Under-15 cricketfinal took a twist following a Lodge School fightback in the finalmoments of the day.For four hours yesterday, Queen’s College made all the running. In thelast hour, however, a moment of indecision and another of indiscretionbrought Lodge back into the match. If anything, they have a slightadvantage on the final day.With 50 minutes to the close, Queen’s College were 124 for two inresponse to Lodge’s 232. With 11 minutes remaining, they were 155 forthree, representing a very good day’s work.Then came their big setback. Nicholas Standford, their solid openingbatsman who had been firmly entrenched for more than four hours, wasrun out for a disciplined 61.And just before stumps were drawn, Kofe Hurdle was adjudged to haveedged a catch to the keeper off Shamarh Brooks’ probing leg-breaks.Even before those two went, Queen’s College suffered a major loss whenKerwin Elias, their captain, leading run-scorer and seemingly mostfree-scoring batsman, fell to a rash stroke after featuring in athird-wicket stand of 73 with Standford.The day went well up until the end of the last session when we gaveaway two or three wickets which we shouldn’t have, said Rory Sidaway,a Queen’s College official.Standford set off for a single to mid-off, but got no response fromnon-striker Kofe Hurdle and failed to regain his ground when wicketkeeper Nicholas Squires broke the stumps.If we were still two or three wickets down at the end of the day, I’dbe a bit more confident about the outcome, Sidaway said. I still thinkwe can get the 75 runs that we need, but it will be more difficultnow. That’s for sure.In the first half-hour, the St James boys polished off Lodge’s lowerorder. Lodge, 207 for six, overnight, lost their last four wickets forfive runs after a seventh-wicket stand of 69 between Pierre Atwell(53) and Rio Brathwaite (31).For the remainder of the day, Queen’s College diligently pursued thetarget with the type of disciplined application that some local clubteams should try to emulate.Standford presented a straight, broad bat for the entire afternoon andwas never drawn into playing any false strokes. He and Nekoli Parrisput on 43 for the second wicket after Niaz Dokrat was bowled by fastbowler Damien King as he went into a drive.Queen’s College lost Parris just after lunch to a neat stumping bySquires off Brooks, but Standford and Elias made sure only one wicketfell in the middle session that produced only 57 runs.Elias batted confidently and just before tea cracked two fours in anover, a rare occurrence on the day.Lodge desperately needed a wicket and captain Squires’ move to takethe second new ball two overs after it was due paid dividends.The pacy Andre Gill, operating from around the wicket, shattered thestumps of Elias, who was drawn into an inexcusable cross-batted shot.It was a wicket that turned the tide for Lodge.

The old fellow (!) Khaled Mahmud, the diminutive all rounder and anex-member of the National Squad, is given the task to lead the Bangladesh-Ateam that are heading off for India on October 13, 2001. Mahmud’s gettingcaptaincy suggests no surprise because it was presumed that he is the onlyman in the team who can take such load with ease.Mahmood was axed for nearly two years from the Bangladesh side and ruled outfor the Test against India. He was included in the A team this year that ranits practice sessions in BKSP for months.The declared 14-member squad has four players who played Tests and three ofthem are directly contracted with BCB as the national pool players.Mehrab Hossain is one of the four luckiest members of Bangladesh who playedall five Tests the team has so far played. It is quite surprising to findMehrab’s name in the A-team list. The selectors defended themselves sayingthat the right-handed opener needs more overseas matches to hone his knack,as his Test statistics is not imposing. Then what is wrong with Al-Sahariaror even the old hand Akram Khan? They too have poor streak of records thatdo not go in parallel with their genius.Why it’s only Mehrab to hit their eyes?We are swollen with pride for Ashraful’s unique pull-off in Colombo, butthat does not make us feel he should get a chance in the second best ofBangladeshi squads. He is already a Test player who has a brighter futureand he has the Zimbabwe team to face in November. Why did the selectors optfor a rising star like him to play for Bangladesh-A? Is it simply becausethey want to shun defeats at the hand of Indian teams?Since Bangladesh got the Test status, we should heave our morale a littlehigher. When we are thinking of sending the A-team we should send a bonafide A-team not like one that have a few national players added with itonly to enhance its strength. I can say without a shred of doubt that Indiaor any other Test playing nation would never go for such decision.It is something that undermines a teams’ self-worth and demean them toothers. Besides these four inclusions have sidelined four youths, who haveworked out hard with a dream to play for Bangladesh-A.Think about the potentiality of a batsman like Rajin Saleh whose progressmay face setbacks because of this inordinate decision. Niamur Rashid, theright-arm slow medium and a hard hitter batsman has to see the machete, sameto say about the promising Ahsan Ullah Hasan, the left-arm offie.The better part of the selection is the inclusion of Masrafee-Bin-Murtaza,more widely known as Kowshik, indisputably the fastest bowler of the countryat present surely this chance would boost him up. The worse part is tokeep Talha Jubair out and let Bikash Ranjan in. Talha drew close notice ofAndy Roberts for his versatility and pace the West Indian was full ofadmiration of his brilliance. Bikash is a contracted player who bagged theexperience of the inaugural Test and presently serving the National Squad.We should be bolder in our approach giving a break to a young worthycandidate in the right direction in the right moment. That is the only waywe can get a generation of flourishing cricketers to show our merit in thisgame.

All five of New Zealand’s One-Day Internationals with England in February will be day/night matches.Originally no decision had been made on whether games in Auckland and Wellington would be day or day/night games.New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said today that consultations with Auckland Cricket and Cricket Wellington had resulted in the decision to make both games day/night matches.”The reasoning is that a day/night game allows spectators more flexibility in their travelling arrangements and the changing environment adds to the excitement of the match,” he said.The matches are: (reserve days will be day games): Wednesday, February 13, Jade Stadium, Christchurch; Saturday, Feb 16, WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington; Wednesday, Feb 20, McLean Park, Napier; Saturday, Feb 23, Eden Park, Auckland; Tuesday, Feb 26, Carisbrook, Dunedin.

For many Gloucestershire supporters, international recognition of the team’s extraordinary one-day success of 1999 and 2000 has flowed like molasses off a shovel. True, there have been intermittent appearances for the skipper, Mark Alleyne, and Jeremy Snape made the most of his opportunity in Zimbabwe to win a place in the one-day squad to tour India and New Zealand in the New Year. But in the winter Test squad, the county was not represented.Until last week, that is. When the events of September 11th and subsequent military action in Afghanistan persuaded Robert Croft that he would not be comfortable touring India, it was to the West Country that England’s selectors turned their eyes. At 31, and after a lengthy apprenticeship, international honours beckoned at last for Martyn Ball.Bristol-born, Ball has played for Gloucestershire throughout his career. Added to his off-spin is an excellent pair of hands at slip, together with an ability to score useful runs down the order. Alleyne himself believes Ball is as good a player as the man he replaces. “He’s the rounded article,” Alleyne said. “He’s not a rip-roaring spinner, but he’s an attacking bowler – he’s got big fingers and wraps his hand around the ball.”Ball’s selection also reflects the part he has played in Gloucestershire’s emergence from a lengthy period of mediocrity. “We were a team that weren’t really performing to our maximum five years ago,” Ball said. “The last three years have been really good – five trophies in two years! But when this kind of thing happens, it takes time to get the recognition. We’ve been in the limelight now for a couple of years, and I think people have realised that we’ve got some really good individual cricketers here as well.”Ball is acutely aware of the challenge he faces in India. “They’re as strong as anybody in their own back yard. They beat Australia, who are easily the best team in the world. But the England side have shown great spirit over the last two years. They had terrific tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka last winter, so there’s a lot of experience of playing in those conditions.Ball is not without experience of playing on the sub-continent. “I’ve been to Sri Lanka with Gloucestershire. From what I can gather, it’s pretty similar to India – the wickets spin, humidity is quite high, and spinners have to do a lot of the work. That’s something that I’ll be relishing, and I can’t wait to get out there.”And did Ball, a father of three, have any security worries? “My wife and I discussed it, and concluded that it would be fine. If 14 of the 16 players had decided that they were completely satisfied with the security arrangements, then I would put my confidence in them.”Although untried at international level, Ball is an experienced campaigner who has earned the respect and liking of his colleagues in county cricket. In a squad short of international caps, particularly among the bowlers, his call-up might just have come at the most opportune moment.

The Selection Committee of the BCCSL has chosen the following squad for the first Test versus the West Indies in Galle from the 13th to the 17th of November. The squad was approved by the Ministry of Urban Development, Public Utilities, Housing & Sports.1. Sanath Jayasuriya (Captain)
2. Marvan Atapattu
3. Mahela Jayawardena
4. Hashan Tillekeratne
5. Russel Arnold
6. Kumar Sangakkara
7. Tilan Samaraweera
8. Muttiah Muralitharan
9. Chaminda Vaas
10. Nuwan Soyza
11. Ruchira Perera
12. Suresh Perera
13. Michael Vandort
14. Niroshan Bandaratilleke
15. Charitha Buddhika

Manager Air Commodore Ajit Jayasekare
Coach Dav Whatmore
Physiotherapist Sean Slattery
Media Manager Interim Committee Interim Committeebccsl.mu.2001.35

Hitting an unbeaten hundred, D Vinay Kumar took Hyderabad to a strongposition at the end of Day Two of their Ranji Trophy league matchagainst Tamil Nadu at Chennai.Unbeaten overnight on 56, Vinay Kumar proceeded to compile runs slowly,batting primarily with Venkatapathy Raju (35). He completed his centuryand was not out on 103, made off 317 balls. He hit 11 fours and a six.For Tamil Nadu, Lakshmipathy Balaji and MR Shrinivas took three and fourwickets respectively.The home side opener, Sadagopan Ramesh, fell having made 16, but SSriram and C Hemanth Kumar batted well before the former fell for 33.Hemanth Kumar was unbeaten on 42 off 84 balls at stumps, and he wasaccompanied by Hemang Badani, who was not out on 7.

Northerns Titans brought Western Province’s unbeaten Standard Bank Cup run to an end at Newlands on Wednesday night, holding their nerve to win by two wickets in a low-scoring match.The Titans’ victory went against type as they tracked down the moderate WP total of 185 for nine. Almost inevitably the side batting first at Newlands wins, but although the visitors had to sweat into the last over before clinching victory contributions all down the order saw the Titans home.There was only one score in excess of 50 in the entire match, Lloyd Ferreira celebrating his recall to the WP team with a pugnacious 65, but some of the best cricket was played by two young fast bowlers. Friedel de Witt took two for 35 in the WP inning while 19-year-old WP debutant Quinton Friend earned the man of the match award with one for 27 in his nine overs.The victory keeps the Titans in contention for a semi-final berth in the limited overs competition.

Wellington’s second loss of the weekend to Central Districts ushered Canterbury through a wide open door to win the right to meet Auckland in the final of the women’s State League next weekend.Wellington batted first and after plummeting to 21 for five wickets, had Maia Lewis to thank for dragging it through to 143 before the side was all out in the 50th over.Lewis was eventually run out for 42 but in the process she added 56 with Anna Corbin (32) and 30 with Amanda Cooper.Aimee Mason bowled from the outset and took three wickets for 12 runs off 10 overs while Kate Pulford backed her up with two for 21 from eight overs.CD took 41.1 overs to hit the winning runs. Nicole Thessman scored 46 not out off 79 balls while Pulford scored 26 and Mason scored 34 off 45 balls.Canterbury assured themselves of a place in the final when dismissing Otago for 81 in 34.2 overs in Oamaru. Extras of 21 were the top score for Otago while Rachel Pullar scored 16.Helen Daly took three for 14 off 10 overs while Rebecca Steele took three for 10 off six.Canterbury raced to an eight-wicket victory, and the bonus point as they scored the runs required off 20.2 overs.Nicola Payne scored 26 and Haidee Tiffen 25 off 27 balls. Pullar provided something of a test for the batsmen in 10 overs of fire and brimstone as she took two for 23 from her 10 overs.Auckland warmed up for the final by taking a 10-wicket win out of Northern Districts. ND scored 107 with Victoria Brown scoring 22 and Anna Wilkins 13. However, there was one concern for Auckland, they bowled 26 wides.Paula Gruber took four for 15 from 9.2 overs while Natalie Scripps took two for 23 off 10 overs.Auckland raced to victory in 15.5 overs. Rebecca Rolls, thankful for missed catches when on 0 and five, scored 58 off 46 balls while Michelle Lynch hit 36 off 50 balls.

Gujarat edge out AndhraThe Andhra challenge, which had been resuscitated by a dramatic ninth wicket partnership between RVC Prasad and Hemal Watekar, fizzled out after the two men departed early on the fifth morning. Their dismissals secured Gujarat the all-important first innings lead and a berth in the Ranji quarter-finals where they will meet Bengal.The remainder of the day’s play at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad still had its exciting moments. A patient unbeaten 75 from opener Narender Modi was what saved Gujarat the blushes of being dismissed for a paltry score in the second innings; the home team reaching 174 for eight when play was called off.Railways ease into quarter-finalsRailways, who had secured a massive first innings lead over Delhi, settled for batting practice on the final day at the Karnail Singh Stadium, Delhi. A hundred from Yere Goud and hundreds from JP Yadav and TP Singh saw their team post 314 for four in the second innings when play was called off. Railways will now clash with Tamil Nadu in the Ranji quarterfinals which will again be played at Delhi.Yadav made 80, Singh 64 and Goud, an unbeaten 101, as Railways put the Delhi bowlers through the wringer. Goud, the backbone of the Railways batting, brought up his ton in good time, his 162-ball knock being studded with 15 rasping hits to the fence.The rest of Ranji quarter-final draw reads as follows: Baroda take on Hyderabad at Baroda while Punjab await the winners of Orissa-Uttar Pradesh clash.

Eastern Province fought back gamely on the second day of the Super Sixmatch. Although the home team scored freely in the morning session, thevisitors’ top order held out long enough to give their team a good chance ofavoiding the follow-on.Kirsten continued to dominate in the morning session, going on to equal hisbest score in domestic cricket before falling to Hayward in much the sameway as Gibbs earlier. He received good support from Munnik and Dawsonbefore Harris bashed a few quick runs at the end. Only Duminy failed to getgoing, looking tentative after a promising start on the first evening. Kempbowled with some fire, while Hayward’s support in the slips was embarrassingas several chances went down in the latter stages of the innings. Homaninevertheless performed well to snare 5 catches on debut.Benfield hit 5 fours before falling to Munnik, while Bryant batted fluently.The right-hander must feel this field belongs to him, as he had scoredcenturies in each of his last 3 visits to the Newlands crease. He lostBradfield immediately after the skipper had completed his 50 in 201 minutes(166 balls), and was unfortunate to be run out after a misunderstanding withCallaghan with just 4 overs to be completed. Nightwatchman Homani followedup his competent keeping with a brief but aggressive innings, apparantlymisunderstanding his role.