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Dropped catches cost Minor Counties dearly, together with some wayward seam bowling on a pitch of variable bounce and slow pace, enabling Northants to score 271 for 8 in their 50 overs. Chris Brown was again on top form, taking 2-13 from his 10 overs.This was always going to be a stiff target especially when Howitt was caught at cover off his first ball. Adshead and Dawson batted aggressively, adding 54 for the second wicket in just 6 overs. Trower again showed his class and together with Mann proceeded to keep up with the clock. When Trower(45) was well held driving uppishly to fly gully and Mann(29) spooned a catch to extra cover, the target proved out of reach, in spite of some determined batting from Brown(30) and Kidner.

Members of the South African Cricket World Cup squad are meeting theirsupporters and doing signing sessions around the country before and duringthe ICC Cricket World Cup to give the players an opportunity to chat totheir fans and to sign autographs.Cape Town fans can come and meet the whole South African Cricket World CupSquad at the V&A Waterfront on Sunday 2 February to chat to them and wishthem luck for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Supporters may being any items fortheir cricket heroes to sign, but will be limited to two items per person.When: Sunday 2 February 20032:30pm to 4pmWhere: V&A Waterfront (amphitheatre)Johannesburg fans will have a similar opportunity at Eastgate ShoppingCentre on Thursday 13 February at 2.30pm to 4pm.

Bushrangers captain Shane Warne is among four players flying to Hobart to be considered for selection for Sunday’s ING Cup clash against the Tasmanian Tigers at Bellerive Oval.Nick Jewell, Andrew McDonald and Rob Cassell join Warne in Hobart as additions to the twelve contesting the current Pura Cup match. The final twelve for Sunday will be selected at the completion of the Pura Cup match on Saturday.BushrangersShane Warne (c), Darren Berry (vc), Jason Arnberger, Rob Cassell, Matthew Elliott, Shane Harwood, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, Mathew Inness, Nick Jewell, Michael Klinger, Mick Lewis, Andrew McDonald, Jon Moss, Graeme Rummans, Cameron White

Part IV: High Drama Down UnderIn any Indian fan’s list of famous triumphs, the unexpected victory atMelbourne in February 1981 will rank very high ­ and for good reason.A win abroad, against strong opposition, achieved against all odds,with the Indian side crippled by injuries to key bowlers, and afterbeing in arrears by 182 runs in the first innings ­ this is the stuffof which fiction and film scripts are made. But even this scenario wasmade more surreal by one more dramatic event that marked the twistsand turns over five days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ­ a nearwalkout by the Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar after he had furiouslydisagreed with an lbw decision against him.

It is true that India had won two successive Tests in Australia in1977-78 against a sub-standard Australian side, denuded of the Packerplayers, and had come close to winning the series. But against fullstrength Australian teams on two previous visits, they had lost eightout of nine Tests played. And, in 1980-81, Australia were the secondbest team in the world, behind West Indies, with a particularly goodrecord at home. Prior to the series with India, Australia had beatenNew Zealand in a three-match series 2-0.Things moved as expected when Australia wrapped up the first Testagainst India at Sydney by an innings in three days. The home teamthen had the better of a drawn second Test at Adelaide. So India couldstill level the series by winning the final Test at Melbourne, but forlong this seemed an impossible task. In spite of a gallant 114 byGundappa Viswanath, India could only get to a modest 237 in the firstinnings. Allan Border (124), with good support from Greg Chappell (76)and Doug Walters (78), saw Australia reply with 419 midway through thethird day.As Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan opened the Indian second innings, theodds predictably were on Australia completing a 2-0 triumph. Gavaskarhad been woefully out of touch, struggling to get 48 runs in fiveinnings, but this time he settled down, and the pair led India’sfight-back with their ninth three-figure partnership in Tests.On the fourth morning, after the pair had put on 165, Gavaskar wasadjudged lbw to Dennis Lillee for 70. He disagreed with the decision,stood his ground, and alternated between pleading and arguing with theumpire and the Australian players. Then Lillee came near him, pointedto his pad, and said something to him. Already upset, Gavaskar by nowwas furious. He stormed off the field, pulling a reluctant Chauhanalong with him.The Indian manager, Wing Commander Salim Durrani, met the agitatedGavaskar near the boundary line, asked Chauhan to stay on the field,and instructed Dilip Vengsarkar to go in. The manager’s timely actionsaved a potentially embarrassing situation, but in the meantime, Indiahad to continue their fight to save the match. Chauhan top-scored with85, and there were good supporting knocks from Vengsarkar (41),Viswanath (30) and Sandip Patil (36). A total of 324, however, meantthat Australia had to get only 143 runs for victory.The wicket was showing some signs of wear and tear, but it seemed toosmall a target to cause the Australians, with their formidable arrayof batsmen, any trouble. Moreover, by now the Indians had major injuryproblems. Kapil Dev had pulled a thigh muscle and was unable to openthe bowling; in fact, he had batted with a runner in the secondinnings. Dilip Doshi had a fractured instep, but was just about in acondition to bowl. Shivlal Yadav, while batting in the first innings,had sustained a hairline fracture on his toe thanks to a Len Pascoeyorker. He had bowled 32 overs in the Australian innings, retiredmidway through, was not in a position to bat in the second innings andwas thus out of the action for the rest of the Test.So India were left with one fit (Karsan Ghavri) and two half-fitbowlers, and this weakened trio were to bowl Australia out for lessthan 142. It seemed Mission: Impossible until Ghavri dismissed JohnDyson and Chappell with successive deliveries to leave Australia at 11for two. Super-fast work by Syed Kirmani stumped Graeme Wood off Doshiat 18, and with the Australians teetering at 24 for three by the closeof play, the match had suddenly come to life. However, Australia werestill the firm favourites as the target was within reachable limits,and Kim Hughes, Doug Walters, Allan Border and Rod Marsh were stillaround.On the final morning, Kapil Dev put aside his discomfort and, with theaid of pain-killers, took the field. He and Doshi now bowledunchanged, the left-arm spinner taking the crucial wicket of the inform Hughes. Thereafter, it was all Kapil. Bowling with fire in hiseyes, the Indian spearhead maintained a perfect line and length, madethe batsmen play at every ball, and gave nothing away.In a trice, the strong Australian batting line-up crumbled before hisinspired spell. With Gavaskar, still smarting from what had happenedthe previous day, egging his team on, the home side were shot out for83, leaving India winners by 59 runs. Not one batsman got to even 20,and Kapil finished with five for 28. Of course, the roles played byGhavri (two for 10) and Doshi (two for 33) were also vital in shapingone of the most dramatic victories in Indian cricket history.

Mutare Sports Club are national league champions for the first time after winning their final game of the season. Tied first with Old Georgians and Universals going into the last game, they finished on equal points with OGs (after both sides had won) – but went through on a higher run rate.Travelling to Old Hararians in Harare to meet Bulawayo Sports Club last weekend, they prevailed by nine wickets with time to spare. Managing only a disappointing 77 in 39 overs after winning the toss, BSC succumbed to disciplined Manica bowling with Sims collecting two for 10, Burmester two for 19 and Iain Coulson mopping the tail with three for 2.Neil Ferreira (40 not out) and Andy Flower (29 not out) knocked off the runs after the early loss of Tafadzwa Madondo – playing his last game for Manicaland prior to departure to New Zealand to start a professional rugby career. It’s not clear exactly how he is going to break in, but he is initially heading to Auckland to stay with family. He has been made to understand his prospects are good. He certainly won’t miss the black cricketers from Takashinga club. Batting against them a fortnight ago, they taunted with him unfavourable comparisons to his deceased Test-playing brother Trevor and his willingness to play for the enemy (Manicaland).Flower batted slowly, trying to get maximum time in the middle prior to his departure to India with the Zimbabwe team later this week. Alistair Campbell was missing from the Manicaland team having bruised a thumb, courtesy of a Henry Olonga lifter during a mid-week net practice. He too will be joining Flower in India, having finally finished a period of extended punishment for talking to the English media. He appears to have learnt his lesson. All friendly approaches by this journo last week attracted glacial reserve from this normally outgoing man.Takashinga return to Mutare Sports Club next Sunday to play Manicaland in an end-of-season knockout competition for the top four sides of the national league. Expect more sparks to fly. And this time Manicaland will be without their top guns – Flower and Campbell in India, Whittall and Sims in South Africa with Zimbabwe A. The other two teams in the competition are Old Georgians and Universals.Watching the antics of Takashinga two weeks ago was former Manicaland Secretary Graham Skidmore. Out from Taunton for a short holiday to visit his daughters, he remains an active umpire in the UK and spent much time pressing umpire test-questionnaires into the hands of bemused local umpires. He also gave news of Jeremy Barnes, former Mutare Boys High teacher of the late 70’s and Manicaland cricketer. After a long spell teaching in Johannesburg he is now a professor – married to an American GP – and raises corn and chickens in Texas.This Friday sees the start of Manicaland’s first class program with a four-day game against the CFX Academy at Mutare Sports Club. Making their first-class debuts will be Naeem Sheth and schoolboy’s Tino Mawoyo (16) and Adiel Kugotsi (17).

Carisbrook will become a leader in the New Zealand game with the establishment of a new practice facility this season.An enclosed nets system, based on that used at the Sydney Cricket Ground, will be built and in use within the next two months.A joint venture between Carisbrook’s owners, the Otago Rugby Football Union and Otago Cricket, the nets will feature eight pitches with a fully retractable roof on two at any one time. Each pitch will be four metres wide and will be enclosed by netting four metres high.They will be built on ORFU land adjacent to Carisbrook and will allow teams and individuals to practice while play is in progress on the main ground. They will come into immediate use with Carisbrook hosting three State Championship matches before the New Year, six games in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in January, and the New Zealand/England One-Day International in late-February.The pitches will comprise the same Kakanui soil as used in the Carisbrook block and which has seen groundsman Mark Perram produce some of the best playing sufaces in the country in recent summers.

Australia demonstrated what everyone knew when turning back New Zealand’s first day-last session challenge in the first Test on a rain interrupted second day at the Gabba in Brisbane.Only 134 minutes of play were possible as drizzle drifted across the grounds several times. But that was sufficient for Adam Gilchrist (88 not out) and Brett Lee (60 not out) to put Australia firmly in control of this match at 7/435.The depth of batting talent in the side serves it on occasions such as New Zealand managed to achieve on the first evening when claiming six wickets.And while they picked up a seventh, Shane Warne, early on the second morning, caught at gully by Mathew Sinclair from Chris Cairns’ bowling, that was to be their only success on a frustrating day.Instead, they had to take a back seat and watch as the world champion home team demonstrated why they are such a quality side, when able to extricate themselves from the trickiest positions.Gilchrist was outstanding and ended the day in sight of his fourth Test century.The bald facts of his innings were that he had faced 123 balls but since passing his 50 in 86 balls, he has been scoring at a run a ball as he led the New Zealand bowlers a merry dance. He’s hit 13 fours and one six.Already gone in the record-breaking department is his previous highest score against New Zealand of 75 while he and Lee have achieved a record eighth wicket partnership for Australia against New Zealand of 133 runs. They rubbed Kerry O’Keefe and Gary Gilmour’s 1976/77 stand of 93 at Eden Park out of the books.What was especially frustrating for the New Zealanders was the run rate of 5.05 the pair achieved.Lee, in his 13th Test, looked like he had realised the rare chance available to do something about moving into the all-rounder category. He’s three runs short of achieving his highest score and made light of the attack in reaching his half century off 69 balls, with seven fours and a six.While the ineffectual bowling made life easier for the batsmen, they still had to contend with the frustration caused by the breaks for the rain. But rather than let it get on top of their concentration, they decided to put the pressure back on the bowlers, who were already having to cope with a ball dampened by the wet outfield.Despite that, however, there was much to admire in the sheer nature of Gilchrist’s attack.He battled during the early part of the day, but once finding his equilibrium there was no stopping him. While he warmed up with some traditionally hefty pull shots, seemingly fed up to him as part of a regular diet, especially by Dion Nash, he soon flowed into a series of drives and sweetly-timed late cut shots.The New Zealanders were to find fielding positions to halt the onslaught. The innovative field placings of last night were not reproduced and the plans in force against the middle-order did not seem to have been worked out for Gilchrist and Lee.It may have been that the bowlers were unable to bowl with the required control, and certainly their efforts did not have the same thought about them.It is little wonder that Lee enjoyed a batting average of 21.75 going into the Test.Cairns came in for some punishment, especially from Lee, who at one stage rocked onto his back foot and cut a ball over the third man boundary for a superbly-timed six. In the same over he unleashed a fierce pull shot to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up his half century.It is tough for Cairns, straight back from injury and already being used as the team’s work horse, moreso after left-armer Shayne O’Connor was taken to hospital for a precautionary x-ray on his knee after lunch. Off 31 overs Cairns has three for 123.The moisture on the ball always meant it was going to be difficult for Daniel Vettori to bowl effectively and his figures of none for 65 from 13.4 overs tell their own story.Craig McMillan was also brought back to reality after climbing the heady heights on the first evening and he ended with three for 47 from his 12 overs.Nash has been too inconsistent. He bowled some tremendous deliveries, akin to those when at the peak of his career, but they were too often interspersed with balls short and wide of the required mark.The pain is not over for the Kiwis and they could still find themselves up against it for an hour or two on the third day with its extended hours. Play will start at 9.30am tomorrow.

LAHORE, March 13: Former Test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz has levelled corruption allegations against some senior officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and demanded of President Pervez Musharraf to change the present set up.Addressing a Press conference here on Thursday Sarfraz said that the Pakistan team had been tasting defeats regularly fromthe home series against England to the World Cup-2003 and now there was no justification for General Tauqir Zia to head the PCB.Sarfraz claimed that he had brought it to the notice of the PCB chairman some incidents of corruption in PCB, two years back but no action had yet been taken by him.He alleged that the National Academy building in Lahore had been completed at a cost of Rs 600 million which should be around Rs 300 million. He went on to say that according to laws, any national project exceeding Rs 500 million should get an approval from NAB which was not sought for the academy. He also said that NAB should investigate the TV rights deal of 40.5 million dollars recently signed between PCB and Taj Company.He said that PCB chairman had changed the name of inquiry committee as review committee which was formed by the board to present its report on the debacle of the Pakistan team in the World Cup-2003.He said that Aaqib Javed, one of the members of the committee, had said that Wasim and Waqar were his favourite bowlers. How could he give his recommendation against them.He asked why the three foreign coaches of the team, Richard Pybus, Dennis Waight and Daryl Foster were not asked to appear before the review committee.He suggested that Moin Khan should be named as next captain of the team.

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya said there was no cause for alarm after the team’s five-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the Sharjah final on Sunday.Sri Lanka were gunning for their third successive Sharjah triumph, but Jayasuriya maintained that the side were entitled to their odd bad day."It was an off day for us," he admitted. "But everyday the players can’t perform and go on to score 270. The batting let us down in the final, but apart from that I thought we did really well.""We had been batting well throughout the series and only failed in the last game. The players all realise what went wrong."Pakistan stacked their side with fast bowlers in the final and bowled out Sri Lanka for their lowest score of the tournament."They have got a very good bowling attack and Wasim (Akram) was outstanding throughout the series," said Jayasuriya. "I think they were the best bowling side throughout the series."Sri Lanka bravely picked two rookie pacemen in their squad and when Dilhara Fernando was ruled out because of a back injury they were left with an inexperienced bowling attack.Jayasuriya, however, paid tribute to both Prabath Nissanka and Charitha Buddhika, who picked up five wickets on his debut against Zimbabwe."We played two young fast bowlers and they did pretty well," he said. "We have to groom them for the future and when they get the experience it will be for the good of Sri Lanka’s cricket."Charitha (Buddhika) has been in the fast bowlers clinic for sometime now and having worked with Champika (Ramanayake) he knows what to do.""Prabath (Nissanka) is one of the quickest bowlers we have in Sri Lanka with Dilhara (Fernando). He has a couple of things to correct and on times he bowled both sides of the wicket, but he clearly has a good future."Sri Lanka’s injury list is a concern for the management, with serious injuries to wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana and fast bowler Fernando."Dilhara (Fernando) is out with a hairline fracture in his back and Romesh (Kaluwitharana) has a fractured finger. It is a problem for the team and as a captain I miss them. But it is part of the game and we have to go with what we have."Perhaps of greater concern is the news that champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is suffering from a persistent shoulder injury."Murali has being having this problem (sore shoulder) for quite a while," he revealed. "Day-by-day he is getting better and we didn’t want to risk him for the finals so we rested him."

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright felt that therewas still scope for improvement in the team’s performance which todaydefeated Zimbabwe for the second straight time to reach the final ofthe triangular series.”We got to pull things up. We gave away 90 runs in the last 10 overswhich were far too many to give away on this track,” said Ganguly,whose 85, a wicket and a catch played a crucial role in India’svictory.”We started well in the morning session but we didn’t bowl well in thelast 10 overs. We could have bowled a lot better with the ball seamingaround on this wicket."On the mini Indian collapse, Ganguly said, "we were 184 for two whenI got out and then we lost four wickets. I would not say they werepoor shots but rather wrong ones. We need to pull ourselves up.”I thought I played a shot which I normally play well against theleft-arm spinners. But yes, we could have applied ourselves better. Iam still not in the best of form, I am not playing at my best. Still,it is better to get some runs. I think I got stuck a bit at the startbut then it was not an easy wicket to bat on.”Coach John Wright was more critical and said the team has an “awful”lot to learn from this win.”Honestly, if you look at the performance and not the result, we needto play lot better than that. I think it was a disappointingperformance. We won a toss which gave us a big advantage and Zimbabwewas a side without its two key players. So we really should havebeaten them easily. We nearly threw it away with some poor shots andalso we gave far too many runs in the field. If we need to becompetitive against the West Indies, I think there is awful lot towork upon. There were far too many extras conceded. Considering thatwe got two wickets in the first over, these guys still got 235 whenbatting conditions were difficult. We got to a winning position andthen we lost Ganguly and a few quick wickets. It just goes to show ifa partnership is broken, you lose a few more quick wickets. We shouldhave a habit of finishing teams off, either in the field or with thebat. Otherwise you would not be consistent in this form of cricket.”The coach said he was happy that Ganguly got runs at last. “I am happyhe got runs and he can now get it off his head and as for Dravid, heplayed just beautifully.”Dravid, who for his 72 unbeaten runs off 64 balls was named man of thematch, said even though he has batted quite well on this tour, hehadn’t played a match-winning innings until now.”When I got in here this time, I was very determined to play that kindof knock. I have been batting well so I decided to play straight andhit it hard. There were a lot of gaps and it is a big ground and youcan find the gaps quite easily and that really helped. When Ajit(Agarkar) came, we still required a run a ball and I said to him thereis no need to panic. If we bat till the end, we will win. I knew bothof us can play shots and we needed just one good over and it came inthe left-arm spinner’s and then Ajit hit a few shots and settled theissue.”