In last month’s Sri Lanka triangular featuring three evenly matched sides, Pakistan came out a close second – quite an achievement for a team full of inexperienced youngsters.Their earlier win in Sharjah had received gentle praise with most critics reserving judgment till the Pakistan team, revamped after a dismal World Cup, faced quality opposition. The Bank Alfalah Cup provided that test as Pakistan was pitted against Sri Lanka and New Zealand under rather trying conditions in Dambulla.Cricket in Sri Lanka is normally a feast of runs on placid tracks but bowler-friendly conditions in Dambulla were a total surprise. All three teams struggled to get past 200 runs on most occasions and only Pakistan managed to breach that barrier.Dambulla’s swing, seam and spin had another down side for Pakistan’s batsmen as it exposed their technique – most of them will have to put in lots of effort to cope in England.Taufeeq Umar, already under pressure, failed and was dealt a severe blow by being left out of the upcoming England tour. A left-handed opener is always important but Taufeeq’s one-day technique coupled with some poor shot selection leading to his downfall. His preference for dragging balls to leg rather than driving through covers has let him down too often.Mohammad Hafeez’s batting at the top was also disappointing and even in his 53 against Sri Lanka he showed little intent to get on with the game, failing to pick up singles when the going was tough. The coach needs to remind him to place the ball and rotate the strike.This tournament proved the need for a genuine fast-scoring left-hand opener and Imran Farhat fits that bill nicely. Pakistan’s excruciatingly slow starts pressurised Youhana and Younis Khan to go for runs without settling in properly. But Imran Nazir, a right-hand batsman, has been chosen for the NatWest Challenge against England.Imran could help with quick runs if, indeed, chief selector Aamer Sohail’s strange reasoning comes true: “Besides, [Imran] is not only a popular choice of the followers of the game,” said Sohail, “but we also tested him in the nets on Monday evening. He looked in good nick.” Pakistan fans hope his slashing at balls outside off and those shades of Shahid Afridi have gone after being left out in the cold for a while. But it does mean that Pakistan head to England with an all right-hand batting line-up; something not quite ideal for diversity.The middle order looks in good shape and Shoaib Malik has been outstanding after his return to international cricket. He has blended perfectly into the squad as a genuine batting allrounder and has the ability to rotate strike as well as hit big shots when required. He paces his innings well and is ideal for the No. 6 position.All too often, Pakistan has promoted a lower-order batsman to open the innings or bat No. 3 after one or two good innings. They would be well advised to not repeat this with Shoaib Malik – he and Rashid Latif may come in very handy in England if the habit of top-order crashes continues.The bowlers impressed in Dambulla but Mohammad Sami’s lack of control over extras remained shocking. He needs to get into the nets and work out a solution, or England will be handed a bounty in conditions that are already sure to be alien to the young team.Shoaib Akhtar was brilliant in the league games, but to the detriment of the team he sat out the final after yet more problems of his own making. The ball-tampering issue needs to be looked at closely as this is not helping Pakistan’s image one iota.For the NatWest Challenge, the selectors have made another correct move in dropping the out-of-form Faisal Iqbal, but Razzaq’s omission has raised eyebrows. It is claimed that he is fatigued and needs to recharge his batteries, but a couple of days later he was back playing county cricket. To add fuel to the fire, media reports claim Razzaq was left out because of his attitude, despite originally being included in the squad. He was lacklustre in Sri Lanka and showed a vulnerability against spin, but against an English attack of mostly medium-quick bowlers he would have been quite an asset. Is Pakistan cricket again sounding a discordant note after all the post-World Cup clean-up hype?Azhar Mahmood and a newcomer, Bilal Asad, have plugged this gap. While Azhar’s recall is understandable after his performances in county cricket, the selection of a youngster for a mere three-match series does not make much sense. Azhar will obviously be the first-choice replacement but Bilal’s likely duty may be to carry out gloves and drinks. It would have been better to blood him during the Bangladesh tour later this year.The unfortunate Naved-ul-Hasan again missed out after an impressive debut in Sharjah. He is a handy medium pacer and a talented batsman who has been tried and tested at the international level – yet another Pakistan-style twist for such a crucial tour.Misbah-ul-Haq and Imran Nazir will have an ideal chance for permanent spots if they can impress the selectors, still desperate to remedy the chronic lack of top-order candidates. Mohammad Hafeez is struggling at the top and just managing to squeeze in because of his allround capabilities.Pakistan’s performance in Sri Lanka can be dubbed more than satisfactory because the youngsters proved they could match top teams and most showed grit under trying conditions. The young brigade was under close scrutiny and did well enough to deserve further chances, rather than a reversion to some of the axed seniors.The most pleasing sight was Pakistan’s team spirit and even in the final, the side went down fighting.Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor

Adnan Ilyas achieved the rare distinction of scoring a century and taking six wickets in the same match and helped set up a strident 225-run victory for Oman over Hong Kong in a Youth Asia Cup 2003 match at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Adnan Ilyas – 168* at Karachi Photo © ACC

Vice-captain Adnan, a Pakistani national, clouted 18 boundaries and five sixes in his unconquered 140-ball 168 to steer Oman to a mammoth 296 for five from 50 overs. If Hong Kong thought they had seen all of Adnan, they were mistaken. He bulldozed them with his mediumpace bowling to capture six wickets for 16 runs to send Hong Kong tumbling out for 71 in 24 overs.After Hong Kong had reached 34 for one, it was Adnan’s brilliant burst that reduced the batting side to 37 for seven with five middle-order batsmen failing to open their accounts and collectively lasting just 24 balls.Adnan not only carried Oman’s innings on his young shoulders, he was also responsible for keeping the scoreboard moving by doing the bulk of the scoring. For the second wicket with Rafeeq Mohammed (13), Adnan added 48 runs while he put on 69 for the third wicket with Imran Younus (46). In a fourth wicket stand of 38, Pranav Mehta’s contribution was just a single and in an unbroken 100-run sixth wicket stand Mehdi Hassan chipped in with 22.In the other match of the day at the Quaid-e-Azam Park, B Vickneswaran hit a match-winning 125 to guide Malaysia to an eight-wicket victory over Kuwait. Vickneswaran slammed 20 boundaries and a six as Malaysia achieved the victory target of 280 with 26 balls to spare.Vickneswaran was involved in a 156-run second wicket stand with Eszrafique Abdul Azis who hit an unbeaten 71 that included 10 boundaries. He faced 76 balls.Earlier, Abu Talib belted 14 boundaries and a six in his 119-ball unbeaten 115 and featured in a 171-run third wicket stand with opener Siam Shibli to propel Kuwait to what looked like a winning score of 279 in 49.4 overs. Shibli scored 82 from 68 balls and his innings was spiced by 13 boundaries.Scores in brief:
Oman 296 for five in 50 overs (Adnan Ilyas 168 not out, Imran Younis 46) beat Hong Kong 71 in 24 overs (Yogesh Mahtani 21, Adnan Ilyas 10-4-16-6) by 225 runs.Malaysia 283-2 in 45.4 overs (B.Vickneswaran 125, Eszrafique Abdul Azis 71 not out) beat Kuwait 279 in 49.4 overs (Abu Talib 115, Siam Shibli 82) by eight wickets.Fixtures for Thursday:
Maldives vs Singapore at Karachi Gymkhana; UAE vs Qatar at UBL Sports Complex No 1.

Old Tauntonians & Romsey and St Cross Symondians go head-to-head for the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship on Saturday, with just two points separating them at the top.It will be a winner take all affair at the Romsey Sports Centre, 1pm, as the pair are well ahead of the rest of the field.OT’s flexed their batting muscle, with Charles Forward hammering 153 in a 294-2 romp against relegation threatened United Services.The powerful left-hander, whose innings contained two sixes and 20 fours, dominated a 154-run opening partnership with Jodey Brown (41).Forward, now the Division’s leading 699 run scorer, added another hefty 140 with Raj Naik, who scored 55 not out before OT’s closed at 294-2.US rallied from 30-3 through Tom Clark (61) and Tim Simmonite (41), but after the teasing spin of Naik (3-45) removed both batsmen, were still facing a massive defeat at 151-6.OT’s failed to remove Paul Barsby, whose unbeaten 52 denied the leaders a precious bonus point as US hung out at 228-8.Hampshire’s Jimmy Adams played an influential role as St Cross Symondians trimmed Burridge by 88 runs at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.Adams, who made 93, shared two significant partnerships as St Cross posted 245-7.He added 92 with Steve Shaw (48) and 62 with Rhys Morgan (46) as St Cross reached 170-3 before losing late wickets to the guile of fit-again Andy Ford (3-53).Stuart Charman (2-16) and Richard Boote (1-30) got amongst the top order as Burridge dipped to 104-7 (Peter Tugwell 36).Oxford University hopeful Ed Brogan’s unbeaten 41 swelled their final score to 157, while spin duo Ben Adams (3-50) and Will Mariner (2-34) picked their way through the lower order.The spectre of relegation is looming ever larger at Sparsholt who, despite scoring 261-7, lost by five wickets to Hursley Park at the Norman Edwards Ground.Kevin Foyle (67) and Kenya star Dave Walters (57) top scored for Sparsholt, who were equally well served by Nick Wolstenholme (37) and Jez Lawson, who hit a late 37 not out.But any tea-time euphoria in the Locks Lane dressing room melted away when Adrian Aymes (95) and Raman Prendergast (91) produced a double-century opening stand for Hursley.Paul Edwards (27) kept the score ticking along but, after a three-wicket burst by Andy Lang (3-62), Hursley got home off thre second ball of the final over.Sparsholt’s future will probably be decided on Saturday at Purbrook, who celebrated a third win in four weeks, beating Gosport Borough by 26 runs.Purbrook recovered from 78-6 to score 162-8 (Paul Jenkins 4-29) and then bowled Gosport out for 136, despite a defiant 57 by Tony Stares.Glyn Treagus (4-20) and Danny Peacock (3-32) bowled Lymington to a 20-run win at Easton & Martyr Worthy, who collapsed from 98-2 to 168 all out (Shaun Green 66).Ben Craft (49) top scored in Lymington’s 188 – Shaun Green (3-32) and Steve Green (3-40) sharing the bowling spoils.

ScorecardManicaland earned a draw against Mashonaland in a match they dominated on the first two days and then looked set to lose after a few overs of the fourth. A boring final day and an unrealistic target meant that champions Mashonaland were unable to start the season with their customary victory.Overnight rain and a cloudy morning made conditions less pleasant, but play started on time. And within 20 minutes, Manicaland had set their sights firmly on defeat. Andy Blignaut began the day with a wide, and then Stuart Matsikenyeri obligingly drove the next delivery straight down the throat of mid-off (114 for 4). When Barney Rogers was given out caught behind by Tatenda Taibu in Douglas Hondo’s first over (122 for 5), and Kudzai Taibu followed the same way in Hondo’s second over (126 for 6), a result was suddenly on the cards.But Gary Brent and Piet Rinke were made of sterner stuff, pulling their team out of the mire with some determined batting. A careless shot by Rinke shortly before lunch cost him his wicket for 46, but Brent was in superb form, eventually making 82. Manicaland delayed their declaration, though, as years of humiliation at the hands of Mashonaland had understandably made them over-cautious. Plus they were only too aware of the presence of the potentially devastating batting duo of Craig Evans and Blignaut.Mashonaland’s eventual target was 364 off a minimum of 53 overs, almost seven runs an over. Dion Ebrahim and Brendan Taylor began with a placid 28 off eight overs by afternoon drinks and, with Ryan Butterworth and Stuart Carlisle padded up next instead of Evans and Blignaut, it was clear they never considered going for what would have been a highly unlikely victory, even if just possible on a still superb batting pitch with a lightning-fast outfield.Day 3 Bulletin

The death of Neville Rogers was announced on 8 October. His name will not be familiar to the current generation but very few more accomplished batsmen have ever played for Hampshire.NB: The funeral is to be held at Southampton Cremetoriam on Friday 17th October, at 11:00am.NEVILLE HAMILTON ROGERS was, in many ways, an unlucky player. It is often said that had he played in a stronger batting line up he would surely have appeared in Test cricket. The nearest he came to a Test cap was when he was selected as 12th man against South Africa at The Oval in 1951.For many years he literally was Hampshire’s batting. He was technically correct against pace and spin alike but more often than not had to subjugate his attacking gifts in the interest of his side. Nevertheless, he remained a most accomplished stroke player. He was born in Oxford on 9 March 1918.He was one of a most distinguished sextet of cricketers from that county to give yeoman service to Hampshire. The others were Alec Bowell, the uniquely talented George Brown, "Lofty" Herman, double international John Arnold and, in more recent times, Alan Castell.War delayed his debut until 1946 but he announced his arrival with an innings of 90 against Worcestershire at Southampton, sharing a fifth wicket stand of 209 with Jim Bailey. A century eluded him until the following year. He was dismissed four times in the 90’s before he made 103 not out against Cambridge University at Portsmouth. Once overcoming that psychological barrier, two further hundreds quickly ensued. Neville Rogers reached 1000 runs for the first time in 1947; when he was capped, and went on to complete that milestone in every season until his retirement in 1955.His best year was in 1952 when he made 2,244 runs (avge.40.80). In "Hampshire County Cricket" Desmond Eagar wrote "that he made only two hundreds and for the first part of the season had no satisfactory opening partner makes his performance even more praiseworthy. His consistency was admirable and in match after match he carried our batting."His immense contribution to Hampshire’s batting in one of its direst periods is illustrated by the fact that he carried his bat for the County three times (five in all first-class cricket). In 1954, in a dismally wet summer and on a succession of difficult wickets, he performed the feat on a remarkable four occasions, a record bettered only once in the history of first-class cricket.He also scored a century before lunch against the West Indians at Southampton in 1950. It was during this game that Roy Marshall first played in Hampshire. It was hoped that, when he had qualified in 1955, Marshall and Rogers would form a potent force. It was not to be. They only played together in that year, when Rogers unselfishly dropped down the order to allow the flamboyant West Indian to occupy his preferred spot at the top of the order. Though Hampshire achieved their then highest position in the Championship (3rd). Neville Rogers left the game to pursue a business career with his great friend Jim Bailey.There is little doubt he had earned his rest. He played in 298 matches in all, scoring 16,056 runs (avge. 32.04) and 28 centuries – remarkable figures for one who came to the game late and who often played a lone hand. His highest score was 186 v. Gloucestershire at Portsmouth in 1951.He later played for Deanery and, after some 20 years away from Hampshire cricket re-established contact via the Radio Solent commentary box, and supporting Jimmy Gray in his role as cricket chairman. He was a penetrating analyst of a batsman’s technique. He was invariably accompanied by Jim Bailey on his strolls around the Northlands Road ground.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the BCCI, has announced that the ICC will release the withheld World Cup guarantee money, which amounts to US$6.5 million, in six weeks. The amount was withheld by the ICC after claims by the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), the body representing the World Cup sponsors, that all the promises made to them had not been fulfilled. As the BCCI was at the center of the controversy, due to the ruckus over player contracts, the ICC kept back the guarantee money pending a settlement with the GCC.Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Dalmiya said: “It was decided at the executive board meeting of ICC Development International Limited (IDI, the commercial arm of ICC) that the money is to be released, and the time-frame fixed for that is four to six weeks.”He also clarified that there had been contradictory reports after the meeting at Barbados which stated that the ICC’s decision was conditional and that BCCI had to furnish a bank guarantee for the release of the money. “I had checked up with the ICC President Ehsan Mani and he clearly stated that he had been grossly misquoted by the media on the bank guarantee issue”, he said.Dalmiya said the ICC had only set two conditions for release of the withheld money. Firstly, each of the 10 full-member boards would have to furnish a personal indemnity in case the GCC succeeds in any of its claims with IDI. Also, if a GCC claim has to be settled, a panel of experts would determine the liability of individual boards and its decision would be binding.

The Tasmanian selectors have today named the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers team to play New South Wales in the Pura Cup match to be played at the SCG on Friday 19th – Monday 22nd December 2003.

CASCADE TASMANIAN TIGERS
Ricky PONTING (Captain)
Daniel MARSH (Vice-Captain)
Shane WATSON
Jamie COX
Michael DiVENUTO
Michael DIGHTON
Gerard DENTON
Sean CLINGELEFFER
Shannon TUBB
Xavier DOHERTY
Scott MASON
Adam GRIFFITH
Andrew DOWNTON

The 12th man will be named on the morning of the match.Ricky Ponting’s selection has been made subject to availability which will not be known until the completion of the second “3” Test in Adelaide.Shannon Tubb has been included in the squad of thirteen following some fine performances for the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers Cricket Australia Cup team.Damien Wright is not available due to his selection in the Australia “A” team to play India at Bellerive Oval which commences on the 19th December 2003.After one of the most exciting matches played in the Pura Cup of recent times in Perth last week between the Tigers and Western Australia, which ended in a draw, this match looms as another important one for the team as they push to retain their position as the leaders in the competition.The match will have added recognition, as it will be Michael DiVenuto’s 100th Pura Cup match for the Tigers. He joins only 5 other players who have achieved this milestone.

West Indies 301 (Gayle 77, Ntini 5-49) and 44 for 2 (Sarwan 7*, Chanderpaul 12*) trail South Africa 604 for 6 dec (Gibbs 192, Smith 139, Kallis 130*) by 259 runs
Scorecard

Newly-wed bliss: Andre Nel dismisses Brian Lara © Getty Images

Makhaya Ntini picked up his third five-wicket haul of the series, and Andre Nel began his honeymoon in fairytale fashion, as West Indies were forced to follow on in the fourth and final Test against South Africa at Newlands. By the close, they were slip-sliding to defeat, trailing by 259 runs and with Brian Lara back in the pavilion, after being dismissed by Nel for the second time in the day.To make matters worse, Chris Gayle – the only batsman to carry the attack to South Africa with any success – was off the field after being struck by a rising delivery. West Indies’ hopes rested with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had made 12, and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was so chastised by a huge run-out chance when he had made 7, that he didn’t dare add to his score before the close.It was a day of almost unstinting success for South Africa. Ntini set the tone in the first hour of the day, after West Indies had resumed their first innings on 7 for 0. Daren Ganga squirted a sharp chance to Jacques Kallis at slip, and Sarwan played all round a full delivery to be bowled for 13, and at 37 for 2, the day had started ominously.But Gayle, who galloped to a 78-ball hundred in the first innings at Cape Town, was again in a feisty mood, despite an uncannily quiet start to his innings. He was given his cue by Lara, who swatted Andre Nel over midwicket for six, and together they added 102 for the third wicket.Gayle cracked three fours in an over from Andrew Hall, then repeated the dose with lunch approaching, as Kallis was sent whistling for three off the reel, in addition to the flick over the slips that Lara had already pulled off in the same over. But that was as good as the partnership would get. Two balls later, and in the final over of the session, Lara nibbled at an off-stump delivery, for Mark Boucher to take a tumbling catch to his left. For the newly-married Nel, it was the most unusual, but most welcome, of wedding presents.Their predicament got even worse straight after lunch. Gayle might have thought his luck was in when he was dropped in the first over of the resumption, but he immediately threw his wicket away with an airy waft off Ntini that flew at a comfortable height to Neil McKenzie at backward point (142 for 4). He had made 77 from 113 balls, and with him went West Indies’ best hope of saving the follow-on.Dwayne Smith flickered briefly. He took his time to get going, but the drinks interval singled a change of tempo. In particular, he enjoyed a fascinating duel with Kallis, who should have caught him at third slip when he had made just 9. Smith flogged Kallis for consecutive fours in his seventh over, before rocking back to smear him over the midwicket boundary for six. Consecutive fours off Nel followed, and Smith looked to be up and away. But Kallis refused to lose his cool, and suckered Smith with a well-pitched up outswinger, and he couldn’t help but nibble a simple catch through to Boucher for 39 (195 for 5).Nel then returned to centre stage, as Chanderpaul was well caught by Shaun Pollock, low at second slip, and Jacobs waved an easy catch through to Boucher. Though Vasbert Drakes cracked the part-time bowlers for a belligerent 35 from 34 balls, he had no answer to the pace of Ntini. With the new ball imminent, he played around the perfect loosener, and snicked a thin inside-edge onto his stumps.Two overs later, Ntini extracted Merv Dillon with one that kept disconcertingly low, and when Pollock wrapped up the innings by bowling Corey Collymore for a duck, Graeme Smith immediately enforced the follow-on, with South Africa still holding a commanding lead of 303.Second-time around, West Indies batted like condemned men. In particular, Gayle had no stomach for a fight, and limped out of the action with an injury, after thumping two fours in his 14. His exit was immediately followed by Ganga’s, who was bowled off the pads by Ntini for a seventh-ball duck. When Lara was trapped lbw by Nel, as he leapt across his stumps, West Indies were 32 for 2, and staring at a hefty defeat.Although Sarwan and Chanderpaul carried them to the close without any more losses, a third defeat of the series should be a formality tomorrow.

Traditional rivals the Victorian Spirit and NSW Breakers clash at the MCG this weekend in the 2003/04 WNCL Finals Series. The best of three series begins on Saturday, with the Spirit attempting to make it back to back titles after their thrilling victory over the Breakers in the 2002/03 Finals.Vic Spirit Coach Ken Davis said he expected a high standard finals series between the two best sides. “Both sides have deserved their place in the finals and I’m expecting some very intense, high quality cricket. Eleven of the players participating in the finals are involved with the national squad so I think that speaks volumes about the strength of women’s cricket in both Victoria and NSW”.In a public boost to the Spirit’s chances, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Justin Madden urged Victorians to get behind the team in the quest for success at the MCG. “We are urging people to come down to the MCG and rally behind Victoria’s outstanding female cricketers in their bid for national glory. A big hometown crowd cheering them onto success would be fantastic”.The Spirit and Breakers played two matches in the 2003/04 home and away series, the first ending in the WNCL’s first ever tie and the second seeing a Spirit victory with just six balls to spare. Overall in the WNCL the Breakers hold a 15-9 advantage over the Spirit.FINALS SERIES DETAILSSaturday, January 31: First Final – Play commences at 10.00am (Free Entry)Sunday, February 1: Second Final – Play commences at 10.00am (Free Entry)Monday, February 2: Third Final if required

The Tasmanian selectors have today named the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers team to play Western Australia in the Pura Cup match to be played at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday 4th – Saturday 7th February 2004.

CASCADE TASMANIAN TIGERS
Daniel MARSH (Captain)
Shane WATSON (Vice-Captain)
Jamie COX
Michael DiVENUTO
Michael DIGHTON
Gerard DENTON
Sean CLINGELEFFER
Xavier DOHERTY
Scott MASON
Scott KREMERSKOTHEN
Andrew DOWNTON
Damien WRIGHT

The 12th man will be named on the morning of the match.Selectors have made one change to the team, which drew with Queensland last week. Scott Kremerskothen has been included at the expense of Adam Griffith who has been omitted.