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Wickets tumbled on the opening day of the Provincial Tournament final, with Ruchira Perera first jogging the memory of the selectors with a five-wicket haul that included a hat-trick and helped Central Province bowl out North Central Province for just 175. Nuwan Kulasekera, an emerging talent, then struck back in the evening with a four-wicket spurt to leave the match evenly poised in the evening with Central Province still 91 runs adrift on 84 for 4.North Central Province, the form team of the group stage, struggled from the start after being put into bat by Kumar Sangakkara, the Central Province captain. Priyankara Silva, a 28-year-old right-armer, chipped in with three wickets to leave North Central 83 for 6. But Upul Chandana (37 not out) and Kumar Dharmasena (42) stopped the freefall for a while with an 89-run stand before Tharanga Lakshitha bowled Dharmasena.Perera, still trying to rebuild his career after his action was called into question during Sri Lanka’s Lord’s Test in May 2002, then took centre stage with a dramatic hat-trick. Farveez Maharoof was caught and bowled and then Kulasekera and Channaka Welegedera were both adjudged leg-before.Fortunately, for North Central, Kulasekera struck back in the evening with the important wickets of Sajith Fernando (16), WMB Perera (5), Kumar Sangakkara (0) and Thilan Samaraweera (4), the in-form double centurion in the last game. Opener Nishad Paranavitana was unbeaten at the close on 27 with Hasantha Fernando on 21.

The Championship match between Glamorgan and Gloucestershire at the Nevil Road ground in Bristol endedin a draw, as Gloucestershire, needing 360 to win on the final day, ended on 280/7. Jonty Rhodesand Tim Hancock each made half centuries in a third wicket stand of 125 and for a while in mid-afternoon,a Gloucestershire victory could not be ruled out. But Glamorgan then claimed fourwickets in twelve overs either side of tea, before a defiant 50 in two hours from Alex Gidman saw thehome county to the safety of a draw. However, Glamorgan will not be too despondent at this outcome, as theten points they picked up allows them to consolidate on their position in the promotionrace into Division One.Glamorgan had earlier batted on for a couple of overs in the morning before being dismissedfor 291 to leave Gloucestershire their victory target of 360 in a minimum of 92 overs.A slash to the third man boundary off Jon Lewis by David Harrison had broughtup the 50 partnership for the last wicket with Michael Kasprowicz. The Australianalso clipped Lewis for two legside boundaries, before he was caught at mid-wicketby Tim Hancock off Martyn Ball for 25. David Harrison was undefeated on 39 withthe merry 10th wicket stand being worth an invaluable 62 runs.Had luck been going their way, Glamorgan might have taken four wickets in the first twenty fiveovers before lunch, and both of Gloucestershire`s openers might have gone in the first fiveovers. Firstly, Craig Spearman survived a difficult chance in the slips in Alex Wharf`s second over,before Phil Weston gave a sharp chance to first slip in Kasprowicz`s third over. But afterHarrison had replaced Wharf at the Ashley Down End, he made the breakthrough as Weston edgedto wicket-keeper Mark Wallace.Craig Spearman continued to live dangerously, twice playing the ball in the air close to a fielder, buttwo overs after Weston had departed, Harrison dismissed Spearman as he slashed a ball straight into the handsof Dean Cosker who was fielding at point as a substitute for Matthew Maynard who had a bruised finger.Harrison might have dismissed Jonty Rhodes first ball, as the South African nearly chopped a ball ontohis stumps. Then two overs later the Springbok edged an outswinger from Harrison just wide of a divingJimmy Maher at second slip, before surviving another loud appeal for a catch as the umpiresruling in the batsmans favour.Rhodes and Hancock brought up the 100 after lunch and despite both batsmen playing and missing several times, neithergave any further chances, and a pull for six by Rhodes off Harrison not only brought up the century partnershipbut also saw the South African to his fifty from 90 balls. Hancock, who had been content to play second fiddle,duly reached his fifty – his second half century of the game – from 124 balls with 7 fours.The game changed complexion in twelve overs either side of tea, as 4 wickets fell for the addition of just 41 runsThe 3rd wicket stand between Hancock and Rhodes had added 125 runs in 39 overs when Wharf returned at the PavilionEnd and had Rhodes leg before playing across the line. In the next over Hancock was caught at short-leg by Ian Thomasoff Robert Croft. The same combination accounted for Matt Windows in the first over after the interval. Ian Harvey thencame in and made his intentions clear by immediately going onto the attack, hitting two consecutive fours off Wharf.But on 16 he was superbly caught and bowled by Croft attempting another firm drive as Gloucestershire slippedfrom 180-2 to 221-6.Jack Russell and Alex Gidman then mounted a stubborn rearguard action, with Russell in his usual dogged fashionfending off the seam of Kasprowicz and the clever spin of Croft, whilst Gidman offered stout support at the other end.After seventy minutes of defiance, Russell was trapped leg before by Croft, but Gidman remained resolute throughthe final eight overs and with Martyn Ball, he saw his side to safety.

Stephen Jones, a gentleman from Norwich is moving to the south coast in December and is looking for a club to score for.Mr Jones is fully ACUS qualified and has six years of scoring at a high level under his belt, having scribbed for Commercial Union CC in Norwich for five years (Premier Three standard) and Norwich CC last season (Division One level).He uses colours and run charts and is installing a scoring program to a laptop during the winter for use this coming season.If you are interested in engaging him as your official scorer (as per the rules of the competition you must have one), please contact him on 01603 702010.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsStafanie Taylor finished the four-match series with the most runs – 261•WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks LaTouche Photo

Captain Stafanie Taylor’s unbeaten 87 carried West Indies to a 3-1 series win over Pakistan with a six-wicket victory in the fourth and final Women’s ODI. Taylor and former captain Merissa Aguilleira put on 94 for the fourth wicket to steer West Indies in their chase of 183.West Indies were 86 for 3 when Deandra Dottin departed in the 23rd over for 25. However, Taylor and Aguilleira ensured no further hiccups till the latter fell in the 42nd over with only three runs needed. Taylor hit ten fours in her 107-ball knock while Aguilleira made 37 off 62.Taylor had sent Pakistan in to bat, and regular strikes from seamer Shamilia Connell (3 for 32) and offspinner Anisa Mohammed (2 for 30) did not allow Pakistan to build momentum. They were down to 107 for 5 in the 37th over before captain Sana Mir (24 off 48) and Asmavia Iqbal (44 off 43) guided them to 182 for 5.

Tony Frost has been brought out of retirement by Warwickshire to cover for the potential absence of Tim Ambrose on England duty next season. Frost ended his first-class career after the 2006 summer and took up a position on the Edgbaston ground staff and continued playing club cricket with Knowle and Dorridge.The offer was put to him by Ashley Giles, the director of cricket, following Ambrose’s call-up for the tour of New Zealand which starts next month. If Ambrose cements a place as England’s wicketkeeper it will leave Warwickshire short of options behind the stumps.”Tony ticks all the boxes and can provide good cover should Tim be away for prolonged spells with England,” said Giles. “He is an experienced, capped player who is an accomplished batter and like-for-like replacement.”As a club we want to be positive and support our younger players and we feel that Richard Johnson [the reserve keeper] would benefit from more matches with the second XI before being thrust into first team cricket. Tim’s position in the England set-up is not guaranteed but until we know more about his long-term commitments we now have an experienced and committed replacement for what is such a crucial position in the side.”Frost was thrilled to be given the opportunity to relaunch his professional career. “It was a surprise to be having the conversation but it didn’t take me long to accept the offer,” he said. “I have enjoyed working with the ground staff and learning the other side of the game but I loved my time with [Warwickshire] and I can’t wait to get back with the team and playing.”In his last season before retiring Frost topped Warwickshire’s batting averages and was highly rated around the circuit as one of the safest wicketkeepers. Early in his career he was forced to bide his time while Keith Piper had the No. 1 slot, but enjoyed a consistent run when Piper vacated the role.

It happened 25 years ago, but the passing of a quarter of a century hasnot dulled Raghuram Bhat’s memory one bit. The former Karnataka and Indialeft-arm spinner, who is currently manager of the Karnataka team, brokeout in unrestrained laughter when asked if he remembered the time SunilGavaskar batted left handed against him to save a Ranji match.”That cannot be forgotten. The ball was turning right angles on the day. Iwas just pitching the ball in the good length spot, because I did not knowhow much the ball was going to spin; sometimes I tried to bowl an armerand it turned,” he said, in a freewheeling chat on the sidelines of theKarnataka-Saurashtra Ranji Trophy match. “The ball was beating the bat andthe only way to play on that day was to play left-hand and play forwardand offer pad. That’s how Gavaskar played and he really played well andsaved the game for Mumbai. It was a great thing to bowl to him and theguts he showed in batting left-handed, for some 12-13 overs, was amazing.”It’s often been suggested that Gavaskar was wrong to batleft-handed, and that in some ways it was a disrespect to the bowler, butBhat will have none of that. “I won’t consider it as negative batting, hewas trying to save the game and that was his duty than to get embarrassedby losing outright. His footwork on the day was something to be seen to bebelieved. If I had recorded that game on video I would have shown that toyoung cricketers as an example. Sunny was middling the ball, no edges, notension.”For Bhat, that was the red-letter day in his 82-match first class career.Although the match was drawn, Karnataka advanced to the final of the RanjiTrophy by virtue of a first-innings lead, and Bhat had 13 wickets in thegame, taking 8 for 123 in the first innings that included ahat-trick. Strong performances in domestic cricket won him a place in theIndian Test team, but that was to last only two matches, where he pickedup four wickets, including that of Javed Miandad and Clive Lloyd, but hewas dropped after that, never to be picked again.Since he retired from first-class cricket, just as a young Sunil Joshi wasmaking his mark for Karnataka, Bhatt has served in many capacities – asumpire, administrator and coach. Today, when he watches cricket, he, likeother quality spinners of his generation, is amazed at the lack of back upfor Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. “Basically, we have forgotten thespin bowling department unlike in the earlier days. There are left-armspinners but the quality is not there. The talent is missing somewhere. Wehave to put our spin department back on track.”Unlike some other veterans, though, Bhat does not simply bemoan the lackof talent. He is encouraged by the cricketers he sees coming through theyounger age groups, and is working with the Karnataka State CricketAssociation to put systems in place that will unearth fresh talent.Already people speak highly of KP Appanna, the 17-year-old left-armspinner who has picked up 21 wickets in his debut season. “What I feel isthe most important quality in a spinner is the consistency. They shouldnot get carried away by the success; it is important. They have to workcontinuously, they cannot say that I have taken 25-30 wickets this seasonand sit back,” he says.Bhat insists that it is quality spin that will win India matches.”Ultimately, spinners have to win the game for us. If you look at therecently concluded Cape Town Test, we would have won the game if Anilwould have been a little bit effective,” he said. “A left-arm spinner would havemade a difference. With a left-arm spinner your team is complete.”India have not had a left-arm spinner to play consistently since VenkatapathiRaju played the part. Murali Kartik has done the job when called upon, buthas not been able to go past either Kumble or Harbhajan in the race to bepicked. It’s too early to tell if there’s a young cricketer rising up theranks who can do the job, but people like Raghuram Bhat are certainlysearching hard.

Points table

Having put up an awesome show in the current season, Baroda appear favourites in their five-day Ranji Trophy Elite group semi-final encounter against Bengal beginning at the Eden Gardens tomorrow.Bengal, who pipped Karnataka at the post with a last-over win against Railways which lifted them to the second place in Group A with 13 points, are also quietly confident. Deep Dasgupta, Bengal captain, has said that it is going to be just another match for the hosts. “There is no pressure on us as such. We are not taking this game as a semi-final. It is going to be just another match which we want to win. The young guys have played well and have shown that they can shoulder responsibilities.” With Rohan Gavaskar leading the run tally (422 runs) and with Arindam Das, Deep Dasgupta, Subhamoy Das, Avishek Jhunjhunwala – who hit a magnificient 139 to defeat Railways – and Manoj Tiwari in fine nick Bengal’s batting looks in good shape. It’s the bowling which will be bit of worry for the hosts. With Ranadeb Bose and Shiv Sagar Singh, the left-arm spinner, having a disappointing season Bengal will look once again to their in-form bowlers – Sourashish Lahiri and Shib Shankar Paul – to spearhead their attack.Meanwhile, Baroda, who coasted to outright victories in three Group B league games enroute to topping the pool with 19 points, the highest among all the 15 teams competing in the elite panel, are upbeat about their chances. “We have not lost any of the matches. And our confidence is at an all-time high,” BS Sandhu, Baroda’s coach, said. They had beaten Hyderabad by 220 runs, carved out an emphatic innings and 93 run win over Uttar Pradesh and humbled Punjab by 50 runs, riding on outstanding batting performances from the likes of Jacob Martin, Pinal Shah, Connor Willams and RK Solanki.In the bowling department, Rajesh Pawar, the left armspinner, and Rakesh Patel – who returns after missing out two Ranji games owing to injury- have served the team well. Martin, the captain, has been particularly brilliant, piling up 486 runs, including an unbeaten 251 against Uttar Pradesh. However, Baroda would miss the services of an injured Satyajit Parab – out with a knee injury – who could not be fit in time for the match. India u-19 wicketkeeper Pinal Shah is expected to open with Wiliams.Martin admitted that Parab’s absence will be felt in the match. “Obviously we are going to miss him and his experience,” he said. The Baroda team management announced the 12 for the match, and said that the playing XI would be decided tomorrow after a final look at the pitch. “We will then decide whether to go for an additional batsman or an additional seamer,” said Sandhu, a member of the World Cup-winning Indian team of 1983.

The Pakistan board has asked the ICC to stand two neutral umpires in one-day internationals and review all the decisions from the VB Series in Australia, Reuters has reported.Pakistan had a handful of lbw decisions go against them during the two finals losses against Australia, where one neutral umpire was employed alongside a home official in line with ICC regulations. Rudi Koertzen gave Adam Gilchrist a reprieve in the first over yesterday while Andrew Symonds survived a couple of close shouts at Melbourne. Michael Clarke was trapped in front by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan at the MCG and three Pakistan batsmen were given out lbw in the two matches.The news agency reported a source close to the board saying a letter had been sent to Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, asking for a review of all decisions because of "inconsistent" umpiring. Abbas Zaidi, the PCB director of media, said it was a "confidential document".Inzamam-ul-Haq said he did not have a problem with the one-day umpiring. "But I think it’s good for the game to have neutral umpires," he said. "There is a lot of pressure and umpires are human too.”

There’s a guy works down the betting shop swears he’s Hansie. Well, not yet there isn’t, but one might well turn up if the Cronje cult gathers much more momentum. The increasingly sorry saga of Wessel Johannes Cronje took one of its more bizarre twists on Sunday with the publication in Britain of suspicions that his death, in a plane crash last June, was no accident. According to The Observer‘s monthly sports magazine Cronje, the corrupt former South African captain, may have been silenced.Dark forces that stood to lose too much should Cronje ever come entirely clean on his involvement in and knowledge of match-fixing would be the most obvious suspects in this crime, if that’s what it was. The Observer didn’t lay it on quite that thick – it didn’t have to.Accordingly, for a few hours in South Africa today Cronje again ruled the media roost. "Was Hansie murdered?" asked the lead headline on a newspaper held aloft by a vendor in mid-morning traffic. "Who cares?" the nation replied as it drove by.By lunchtime Cronje was once more a memory, and the cricket news concerned itself with more lively matters. "We’ll bring you updates from the Lord’s Test," announced someone brightly on the radio. "Oh, no we won’t, because we stuffed them yesterday!"The simple, wonderful truth is that Graeme Smith, a man whose passion is incandescent, not hidden in some offshore bank vault, has proved to all cricket-minded South Africans that there is life after Cronje. Smith has taken on the job of restoring South African cricket to the status it enjoyed before the triple disaster of Cronje, the thrashing by Australia in 2001-02 and the 2003 World Cup, with irresistible enthusiasm and confidence.Shaun Pollock, who manfully stepped into the breach created by the first of those calamities, couldn’t avoid the last two, both of which were haunted by Cronje’s ghost. Smith has no connection, cricketing or otherwise, with Cronje. He was never part of the group that were somehow all smeared by their former captain’s greedy folly, and who reacted to that slight by embalming his memory to the extent of stencilling his initials onto the collars of their playing shirts.Those players could well find themselves among the sad souls to whom the embellished legacy of a dead Cronje means more than a captain, a team and a nation that has moved on to better things. Better? Yes, Smith is already a better player than Cronje ever was, and while he is a novice Test captain there can be few better foundations on which to build a career in leadership than insatiable hunger. A hunger for runs, records and success, that is – not for brown paper bags stuffed with illicit cash.For most South Africans the legend of Hansie Cronje is recent history. For an unfortunate few it is right up there with those of Jim Morrison, Marilyn Monroe and JFK. Perfect material, in fact, for a dodgy country song.Telford Vice is a cricket writer with MWP Sport in South Africa.

Promising XXXX Queensland Bulls left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson willmiss the next two months of the 2001-2002 season after it was confirmedtoday that he has a stress fracture in his back.The Queensland selectors today named allrounder James Hopes as Johnson’sreplacement for the Pura Cup match against NSW starting on Sunday at theGabba, with a decision on 12th man duties to be left until match day.Hopes made his first class debut in the Bulls most recent Pura Cup matchagainst the Western Warriors at the WACA.Scans last night revealed Johnson had a stress fracture in his right L3vertebrae, an injury unrelated to the previous stress fracture hesuffered during his time at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy.Queensland Cricket medical officer Dr Simon Carter said today thatJohnson could be fit to resume bowling towards the end of the season andcould be able to playing as a batsman in club cricket in approximatelysix to eight weeks.”The scans revealed a new injury but also confirmed his previous stressfracture was fine,” Dr Carter said. “Mitchell underwent a degree ofcorrection to his bowling action to return from his previous injury andobviously the coaching and medical staff will review all aspects of thatbefore we embark on his next period of rehabilitation.”Johnson, who was bitterly disappointed at the news, said today he woulddraw solace from the fact that he was facing a situation thatgenerations of fast bowlers had encountered and overcame.”Having had a taste of bowling with the Bulls this season, I reckon Iwill be even more fired-up to do well when I get back,” he said.”I know that fast bowlers have to deal with these sort of injuries andhaving seen Dennis Lillee and Brett Lee overcome them so successfullygives me plenty of inspiration. I’ve been rapt with the experience ofplaying for Queensland and I’ll be keen to do everything I can to getback.”Johnson joins swing bowler Adam Dale as the Bulls long-term bowlingcasualties, with Dale not expected back until late in the seasonfollowing shoulder surgery earlier this month. On a positive note, Bullspaceman Scott Muller, who missed last season with a knee injury and hasbeen hampered again by knee problems so far this season, hopes to make areturn to bowling in club cricket next month.Meanwhile NSW will arrive late this afternoon and will train tomorrow atthe Gabba from 10.30am to 12pm.The opening day of the Pura Cup match will be the Pura Milk Dollar Day,with entry $1 and all patrons eligible for a $1 pie and a $1 coke.XXXX Queensland Bulls v NSW Blues, Pura Cup, The Gabba, Sunday throughWednesday: Stuart Law (c), Jimmy Maher, Jerry Cassell, Martin Love,Clinton Perren, Andrew Symonds, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz, Joe Dawes, James Hopes, Nathan Hauritz (12th man to benamed).NSW Blues: Shane Lee (c), Michael Slater, Greg Mail, Michael Bevan,Michael Clarke, Mark Higgs, Brad Haddin, Stuart MacGill, Anthony Clark,Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Don Nash (12th man to be named).