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Day 1 Close England Women 189 for 3 (Claire Taylor 78*) lead South Africa Women 130 (Pearson 4-25) by 69 runs
Scorecard

South Africa’s women performed a vanishing act that their Indian counterparts would have been proud of, as England took control on the opening day of the second and final Test at Taunton. South Africa were bowled out inside two sessions for 130, and by the close England built a lead of 69 with seven wickets in hand.South Africa won the toss and took first use of a good batting track, but never got going, losing four wickets before lunch as England’s seamers took control. It was after the break that the collapse really took hold, four wickets tumbling for two runs in 28 balls. Lucy Pearson plugged away in an immaculate 16-over spell, finishing with the fine figures of 4 for 25, and Helen Wardlaw’s offspinners wrapped up the tail, as South Africa were bowled out for 130.England lost the wickets of Charlotte Edwards, Laura Newton and Clare Connor before wiping out the deficit, but all three dismissals owed more to mistakes than penetrative bowling. The in-form Claire Taylor reached 78 not out at the close, 22 runs shy of becoming only the third Englishwoman to score back-to-back Test hundreds. With Lydia Greenway, she compiled an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 82. South Africa face another hard day in the field tomorrow.

In the maroon corner, the man with centuries in each of his last five home Tests against Australia. In the baggy green, the man who has dismissed his opponent on 13 occasions in Test cricket, almost twice as often as any other player. Without question, the third Test between West Indies and Australia will be dominated by the contest between two men, Brian Lara and Glenn McGrath.It would be stretching credulity to suggest that Australia have missed McGrath, who flew home ahead of the series after his wife fell ill, and returned midway through the second Test. With the Frank Worrell Trophy in the bag, a series whitewash is looming large against a team that fielded only three frontline bowlers in Trinidad and has seemingly abandoned the art of wicket-taking.But in the absence of his nemesis, Lara has run amok, scoring 349 runs in four innings with inimitable panache. While he and Ramnaresh Sarwan were chiselling towards their final-day target at Port-of-Spain, Australia’s 2003 Test record was in danger of reading: played three, lost two.The Lara factor is the one reason why Australia are taking nothing for granted in the bowling department. For the first time since the Perth Test of 1991-92, when Shane Warne was an international toddler, they are set to take the field with four seamers, which means a reprieve for the usual fall-guy in such situations, Andy Bichel, whose superlative year continued with three important wickets in the afternoon session in Trinidad.Stuart MacGill is certain to be retained, after picking up ten wickets in the recent match against the University of West Indies, so Australia will once again rely on the six batsmen who have rustled up the small matter of 1264 runs for the loss of 14 wickets so far this series. Steve Waugh, who wasn’t even required to bat in the last match, has probably relished Lara’s challenge more than anyone. As he said after the Ashes, "It’s all a bit easy these days".All the same, there were some concerns about McGrath’s lack of match fitness after he picked up three wickets in a gentle warm-up against the University XI. "He’s a fair way behind where he would like to be," said Waugh. "He’s gradually getting better, but he’s still short of a bowl, there’s no doubt about that. He’s got to trust himself and we’ve got to trust him that he’s bowled the right amount of overs. But he’s a great performer and he’ll lift for the Test match.”It may be a sign of the times, but Waugh’s greatest concerns were reserved for the state of the opposition, in particular their lack of bowling penetration. “The wickets have been really slow and it’s a major problem over here for cricket in the Caribbean," said Waugh. "They’re not going to produce any quick bowlers if they keep putting pitches out like that. There’s no encouragement for them; it’s too much hard work."The trio of Merv Dillon, Pedro Collins and Vasbert Drakes, backed up by David Bernard’s ineffectual seamers, were roundly criticised for their lack of incisiveness at Trinidad, and it seems certain that Jermaine Lawson, who missed that match with chickenpox, will be drafted in to give the attack a little more oomph. Tino Best, on his home ground, will make his debut, as will 21-year-old offspinner Omari Banks. Carlton Baugh is also retained after Ridley Jacobs failed to recover from the groin strain he picked up in the first Test. But cosmetic changes will have little impact on Australia’s relentless run machines.As always, West Indies’ best chance of avoiding defeat will come from Australia’s eagerness to force victory – it is 18 months and 16 Tests since Australia were last involved in a draw. In an age where the follow-on has been put out to pasture, Lara and Sarwan – and the sturdy Daren Ganga – will await the size of their fourth-innings run-chase with interest.TeamsWest Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Omari Banks, 8 Carlton Baugh, 9 Vasbert Drakes, 10 Jermaine Lawson, 11 Tino Best.Australia (probable) 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Justin Langer, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Darren Lehmann, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 7 Andy Bichel, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Stuart MacGill, 11 Glenn McGrath.

The Australian cricket team has been winning almost every match over the last four years and came to the 8th World Cup in southern Africa as pre-tournament favourites. At the end of it they went home with the trophy, retaining it without losing a single match.Ricky Ponting, who took over captaincy from legendary Steve Waugh last year, led his team from the front in an attacking and inspirational manner, as his team became the first in history to win the World Cup for the third time.They outplayed every opposition they came up against and in every department of the game too, certainly the deserved winners. No matter the toss was won or lost, no matter batted first or bowled first – whatever they did was to perfection and not left to chance. They approached every game with a gung-ho attitude and reaped the harvest.The Australians started off their World Cup campaign under the most trying conditions – just before their first game against Pakistan, champion spinner Shane Warne was sent back home after failing a drug test. Most other teams would not have coped and probably faltered but not the Aussies. They showed tremendous mental strength as they came into the Pakistan game as if nothing had happened, it was `business as usual’ for them.Even when they were in a spot of bother, reduced to 146-5 in the 30th over they never gave up. Andrew Symonds, lucky to be at the Aussie squad in first place, stood up and scored a magnificent 143 not out to lead the charge as Australia accumulated a mammoth 310-8. Next their bowlers got into the act and despite a late Pakistan assault bowled them out for 228 to win by 82 runs.Similarly, in the final against India, they lost both openers after a good start and could have lost more wickets but skipper Ponting and batsman Damien Martyn first made sure there were no further losses. After playing themselves in, both went on a rampage and belted the Indian bowling to every nook and cranny of the Wanderers to pile up a monstrous 359-2, Ponting ending with 140 and Martyn on 88. In every time of trouble, one or other Australian player stood tall to help his team in the most appropriate manner.Another aspect of Australian victories was they excelled in both batting and bowling rather than depending on just one department. Batters did their job and the bowlers did their job. The latter proved, once again, to be the best in the business. Even after losing two main weapons in Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie they never showed the smallest chink in their armour as solace to oppositions.It is often said a genuine fast bowling attack can make captaincy so much easier and Ricky Ponting will be the first one to agree with this. Both Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were simply brilliant and Andy Bichel, coming in for Gillespie, took wickets in a heap and never let the team feel his absence. Most impressive was Brett Lee, the New South Welshman, in the best form of his life to take 22 wickets bowling with utmost fire and pace.All critics agree Australia is indeed one of the best if not the best team in history. The outstanding successes achieved recently suggest that Ricky Ponting is a marvellously astute captain. I would stress this side is so good it really does not need a captain at all!Nearly all players are thinking cricketers; they foresee every move to be made and where to field, how to bat and where to bowl according to the situation. They have gelled well as cohesive unit, which makes them an even stronger opposition. There were so signs of rivalry or tension in them unlike some other teams and each player backed the other as if they were brothers.The Aussies also figured out their opposition players extremely well by focusing on a batsman’s weakness or targeting a weak fielder, extracting mistakes through the added pressure. Their other philosophy was ‘attack being the best form of defence’. Even if the chips were down like in the Super Six match against New Zealand and in the semi-final against Sri Lanka when bowled out for comparatively low scores, they came out to bowl all guns blazing and blasted them with an attacking and positive game plan.The merit of any teams performance must be judged against the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. This applies to players as well when assessing their records, be they batsmen, bowlers or wicketkeepers. Many a false reputation has been achieved against weaker opponents!The acid test of greatness comes when a team must face awkward situations, strong opposition, and especially if a team has some precious players missing.Thus, this Australian team has every right in the world to be called great. Indeed, they are a cut above the rest and are in a league of their own.This World Cup was just a start and as their coach John Buchanan has said ‘we can still improve’; they surely will make life for others more difficult. So it may be best to wish the best of luck to the others in coming years.

The Selection Committee of the BCCSL has chosen the following 14 players for the Sri Lanka `A’ squad, from whom 11 players will be selected on the morning of the 3rd Unofficial Test Match versus the Kenya National Cricket Team, which is to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium from the 14th of February to the 17th of February 2002. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has approved the squad.The selection of the team to play in the match will be done by the Selectors in consultation with the Coach and Captain.1. Upul Chandana (Captain)
2. Avishka Gunawardena
3. Upekha Fernando
4. Michael Vandort
5. T.M. Dilshan
6. Chamara Silva
7. Prasanna Jayawardena
8. M. Pushpakumara
9. Ruchira Perera
10. Pulasthi Guneratne
11. Rangana Herath
12. Gayan Wijekoon
13. Dulip Liyanage
14. Ian Daniel

Manager/Head Coach:Roshan Mahanama
Coach: Hemantha Devapriya
Physiotherapist: Lal Thamel

India v Namibia:Dinesh Mongia (IND) needs 128 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Javagal Srinath (IND) needs 118 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Anil Kumble (IND) needs 158 runs to complete 1000 ODI runsSaurav Ganguly (IND) 80 runs to complete 500 World Cup runsWest Indies v Canada:Carl Hooper (WI) needs 8 wickets to join the 200 ODI-wickets clubBrian Lara (WI) needs 128 runs to complete 1000 World Cup runs
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) needs 90 runs to complete 500 World Cup runsCarl Hooper (WI) needs 8 wickets to join the 25 World Cup wicket-club

Railways notched up a narrow three-run win against Rajasthan in theirRanji Trophy one-day match at Udaipur on Friday.Put in to bat, Railways made 251 in their innings. With opener AmitPagnis making 45 off 51 balls and Tejinder Pal Singh top-scoring with63 off 72, the total looked to touch the 300-run mark. The middleorder, however, lost its way, and only a steady innings from Yere Goudenabled it to touch the 250-mark.Rajasthan lost Siddharth Joshi early, but opener Gagan Khoda made 69off 91 and Nikhil Doru hit 60 off 80. With the two at the crease, andeven after Khoda’s departure, Rajasthan looked set for a win. Fourbatsmen were run out, however, to leave Rajasthan bowled out for 248,three runs short of Railways target.

What shaped as a David and Goliath battle was transformed into the Shane and Sean show as two outstanding young players helped Tasmania slay Queensland by an innings and 50 runs in an amazing finish to the teams’ Pura Cup clash here in Hobart today.Where Tasmania has been a generous host in previous matches this summer, all-rounder Shane Watson turned inhospitable today, producing an electric display of pace bowling to reverse the tide of poor form that has washed over his side of late. With it arrived the incredible figures of 11/78 inside a day as the Tigers gained sweet revenge for a two-day defeat of their own in Brisbane last month.Sean Clingeleffer, a wicketkeeper-batsman of immense promise, meanwhile led a spectacular exhibition of catching with a performance that established a new record for his state.Suitably stunned into committing an uncharacteristic string of errors, the Bulls crashed to be dismissed for 130 in their first innings before folding for a dismal 101 as they followed on.”I’m very happy about that; it’s still a bit of a weird feeling at the moment,” commented Watson of his first-ever ten-wicket haul in a first-class match.”Eleven wickets is a big tally but everyone bowled really well; I had good support at the other end which really helped me out a lot.”The former Queenslander was only introduced into the attack shortly before lunch but his impact was almost immediate. In his second over, he found the outside edge of the bat of Stuart Law (2), therein claiming a wicket that delivered the near-ultimate in satisfaction.Law, who had been less than flattering in his assessment of both Watson and the nature of his defection before the corresponding fixture last summer, groped at a brisk leg cutter and feathered an outside edge to Clingeleffer.”It’s been a good rivalry between me and Stuart and I was really pumped to try and get his wicket to lift our team. He’s a very good player and it was definitely a key wicket,” added Watson.Just for good measure, the Queensland captain then succumbed exactly the same way as his team’s game began to fall apart again in the second innings. His wicket appeared to be the catalyst of Queensland’s slide in both innings.Six of the last seven first innings wickets fell Watson’s way – in the midst of a collapse that saw eight wickets crash for a mere 53 runs. Another five came in the second as he magnetically found outside and bottom edges as well as the gate between bat and pad.The strongly built 20-year-old enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top tier of Australian domestic cricket as a teenager last summer, performing with brilliance as Tasmania took advantage of Queensland’s reluctance to blood him into state ranks at such an early age.Clamour for his inclusion in an Australian senior team has been building steadily in Tasmania ever since. A favourable effort in an appearance for Australia ‘A’ earlier this month couldn’t have harmed his cause. And national selectors Trevor Hohns and David Boon must have been further moved by what they saw first-hand here at a sun-drenched Bellerive Oval today.His bowling, the velocity of which sometimes rivals that of the stiff breezes which blow across the nearby Derwent River, was exceptional.As far as impressive efforts from players on the fielding side were concerned, he was not alone.Fellow pacemen Damien Wright, Shane Jurgensen and David Saker also bowled with venom. Wright beat the bat on countless occasions; Jurgensen maintained his reputation for impeccable line on a pitch that offered the same variable bounce as it had done yesterday; and Saker, as Watson later suggested, has probably never bowled better in close to two years of cricket with Tasmania.And, where their bowlers opened up chances, Tasmania’s fielders emphatically capitalised upon them. Their catching was of a consistently high standard and in no-one was the trend better emphasised than Clingeleffer. A brilliant one-handed overhead mark as he seized a rocketing edge from the bat of Wade Seccombe (0) in the first innings was the highlight among the total of nine catches which helped him set a new mark for the most taken in a first-class match by a Tasmanian fieldsman.In the face of Tasmania’s multi-faceted assault, opener Jimmy Maher (20 and 41) bravely defied the odds both times for the Bulls. But he encountered precious little in the way of support.Tasmania unhappily tumbled into last spot on the competition table after it lost in Brisbane and a period of soul-searching has followed. All to the accompaniment of a general lack of respect for the team from various quarters.But Watson and Clingeleffer both confirmed that the spirit of enthusiasm and commitment displayed on the field today has been spreading at an infectious rate in the dressing room all week.Cricket can truly be a remarkable leveller at times.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has pardoned Rashid Latif after he wrote a letter to the ICC complaining about "fancy fixing", a form of matchfixing that he implied still goes on. Latif has met Tauqir Zia, PCB’s president, and Rameez Raja, their chief executive, and has apologised for bypassing their authority in writing to the ICC.At a press conference in Lahore on Monday, Rameez said: "The PCB is right behind Rashid Latif about his meeting with ICC Anti-Corruption Unit … We know that Rashid was the [original] whistle-blower and has never kept quiet or minced words when it came to corruption in the sport. So on that part we are satisfied and have no problems because he has only aired his views without accusing any player or citing any specific match."But, Rameez added, "the other problem is that he has gone public. Now that is a clear violation of his contractual obligations. He wrote to us last week in which he has apologised and promised that he would never make public statements."Rameez went on to clarify that "Rashid Latif is and will remain Pakistan captain and there is no change in his status."

Cricket has a reputation for producing the unexpected but there are few saferpredictions than Muttiah Muralitharan grabbing a bagful of wickets on adusty Galle track. Thus, as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe limber up for the finalTest of a hopelessly one-sided three-match series, Sri Lanka’s crown jewellooks set to reach 400 Test wickets in record time.Muralitharan, his ring finger still swollen and locked safely in aprotective plastic splint, needs just five more wickets to become theseventh bowler to join the exclusive 400 club.Astonishingly, if he does take the five, the Sri Lankan-born Tamil, now 29,will have reached the landmark in just 72 games, eight matches less and nineyears younger than the next quickest, New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee, whopassed 400 in his 80th game.He will also become the youngest to the landmark being two years youngerthan his contemporary counterpart, Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne, whoreached the 400 mark against England at the Oval last summer but needed 20more Tests.The impending milestone dominates the build-up to the Test, with captainSanath Jayasuriya hoping he clinches it on home soil: “This is a historicalgame for Murali and we are all looking forward and waiting for him takinghis 400th wicket. The wicket looks good for batting but it should startspinning by the second or third day and may crack later because of theheat.”The affable off-spinner, famous for his piercing eyes and a partially bentlocked elbow that creates the illusion of his arm straightening at the pointof delivery, has not fully recovered from ligament damage caused by hisfinger being dislocated in the second Test, but there is no question of himnot playing, even if the injury will handicap him in the field.Unsurprisingly, Jayasuriya is prepared to swap a few fumbles for hisprodigiously turning off-breaks. “He is recovering fast from the injury andimproving day by day but we will still have to manage him carefully andmight have to hide him a little in the field,” he said.Despite having taken 51 wickets in seven matches at Galle, Muralitharan isbeing typically cautious: “I have not been thinking about it much really.Hopefully, though, I can get there in this game if I bowl well, but thenthere is no guarantee in cricket.” But, already, his eyes are fixed ongreater achievements: “I really want to take 500 Test wickets and, beingjust 29, I have plenty of time to do that.”The omens are not good for Zimbabwe with a confidant Sri Lankan team closingin on a clean sweep at a venue where they look as formidable as the sturdyDutch Fort that forms such a spectacular backdrop to the stadium.The hosts have won their last four games here and boast an attack wellsuited to the conditions. In contrast, the visitors lack self-belief and afrontline spinner on a pitch that is going to offer the pace bowlers noencouragement whatsoever.Stuart Carlisle, speaking before the final team practice, said: “We are looking for a much improved team performance but it’s going to be a real challenge on a pitch that looks like it will turn a lot. The mood is a little bit down after three months away but this is an important Test and the guys know they are playing for their places on the India tour.”Zimbabwe have already released opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza andwicket-keeper Tatendra Taibu for the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand andwill be picking the final team from a 12-man squad. Medium pacer Gary Brentlooks likely to be left out.Sri Lanka are set to make one change with leg-spinner Upul Chandana cominginto the side in place of Nuwan Zoysa who could have played but is sufferingfor a groin niggle.Further experimentation has been ruled out. “We discussed making changes butwhat we wanted to get all the players in good form. People like RusselArnold, who has a big role to play in Sri Lankan cricket, need someconfidence. We are going to England and we will have a chance of playingsome youngsters in the early games,” said Jayasuriya.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, RusselArnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, UpulChandana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, CharithaFernando, Ruchira PereraZimbabwe:Stuart Carlisle (Capt), Heath Streak, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, DionEbrahim, Trevor Gripper, Craig Wishart, Gavin Rennie, Douglas Marillier,Gary Brent, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga

England enjoyed probably their best day so far in the Under-19 Test series against the West Indies at Trent Bridge, finishing the day only 103 runs behind the tourists with seven wickets left.Hero of the day was undoubtedly Durham left-hander Gary Pratt. He hit a composed 188 in almost five and a half hours on the second day of the Second Test.It was his second under-19 Test hundred, following on from his 114 against India in Hyderabad last January.Pratt, who hit 29 fours in his 258-ball innings, was out caught behind as he played under a wide, full-length ball from Jamaican fast bowler Jermaine Lawson.That was six overs from the close, which arrived with England on 313 for threeand Kadeer Ali on 56 in reply to West Indies’ 416 for nine declared.Pratt and his opening partner Joe Sayers, of Yorkshire, defied some vehement West Indies appealing that brought one rebuke from Test umpire Peter Willey during their opening stand of 116.The partnership ended when Sayers lobbed Lawson for a simple catch to mid-wicket and was out for 45.In the morning session, Lancashire seamer Kyle Hogg put aside his heritage to take three West Indian wickets in four balls as they tumbled from 400 for six to 416 for nine.For Hogg’s grandfather is the great West Indies spinner Sonny Ramadhin, whobowled 81.2 overs to take five for 135 in the second innings against England onthis same ground 51 years ago.Ramadhin’s daughter married Lancashire bowler Willie Hogg and the result wasyoung Kyle.He failed as nightwatchman when he played on to Lawson, but he is on ahat-trick when West Indies bat again.