Have Otago finally got themselves in a position where they can ram home the advantage and set up the winning position that has been denied them in games so far in the State Championship?Central Districts could only manage 185 after being asked to bat first by Otago captain Craig Cumming when the four-day domestic competition resumed today.It had been 30 degrees Celsius in Alexandra overnight but the temperature plummeted dramatically before play started in cool conditions at Molyneux Park.Central Districts started out on a greenish wicket, unlike the usual Molyneux Park one and things worked Otago’s way, almost from the outset. Peter Ingram and David Kelly were both out when the score was 22 and Ben Smith followed at 49.Mathew Sinclair worked his way to 28 off 38 balls, hitting five fours, but was trapped leg before wicket by Craig Pryor. At that stage each of the Otago bowlers used had claimed a wicket.Some overdue defiance came from captain Glen Sulzberger, who battled hard for 137 minutes, to score his 36 runs. He and wicket-keeper Bevan Griggs added 55 for the sixth wicket, before Griggs was out for 24 after 72 minutes, the first victim of fast bowler Kerry Walmsley returning to the action.Theirs was easily the best partnership in the innings and apart from a later contribution by Andrew Schwass, batting at No 8 for 39 not out, there was little else to enthuse over in the batting. Central Districts were all out for 185.Walmsley with four for 42 from 20 overs impressed and deserved a five-wicket bag.James McMillan, who took three for 53 from 15.4 overs, bowled well in patches. But like David Sewell, who had one for 44 from 14 overs, he tended to bowl too many short balls. Sewell continued his penchant for leg side theory.Pryor performed a very economical spell of 12 overs and finished with two for 32.Otago did not make the best of starts when losing Robbie Lawson for five with the score on 11 when he was caught off Michael Mason’s bowling. While on 32, Cumming was caught off Schwass for nine.However, Simon Beare was 16 not out and Chris Gaffaney was 12 not out when bad light stopped play 55 minutes early with Otago 48/2.Otago’s response will determine just how much of a factor the pitch was in the Central Districts innings. But if the conditions allow the batsmen to get in tomorrow, Otago must look to build a big total to put the pressure on CD on days three and four.

The 2002 Annual General Meeting of Somerset County Cricket Club that took place on Monday evening in the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground was attended by more that two hundred people.Richard Parsons the retiring chairman presented the annual report and commenced the meeting by telling those present: "Cricket is our business and it has been a disappointing season for the club."However despite the poor playing results 231 more members had been recruited than in 2001, which he said was remarkable for a small rural county.The chairman reported that this was the eleventh consecutive year that the club had reported a profit that he felt was an excellent achievement.Regarding the three new signings that had been made coach Kevin Shine told the meeting that he felt they would most certainly raise the competition stakes for places in the side.In response to a question regarding the Head Groundsman, the chairman told the meeting that Phil Frost had verbally told the club that he was resigning and had confirmed this in writing, but at the present time he was still carrying out his duties on the ground.The Report for 2002 was accepted as were the accounts that were presented by Rory O’Donnell, the Honorary Treasurer.Agenda item seven, relating to the proposed rule changes, the essence of which were the creation of a single committee to streamline the decision making process, and the appointment of a chairman from outside of the committee prompted several questions, but when a vote was taken the changes were passed by an overwhelming majority.Club President Michael Hill thanked the retiring chairman for his years of service to the club, and told the meeting that Richard Parsons had been elected an honorary life member of Somerset County Cricket Club.Before the meeting closed the new chairman elect Giles Clarke, a businessman with a substantial track record, was presented to the meeting and told those present that he was deeply honoured and immensely privileged to be asked to become chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club. He looked forward to doing his best towards helping the club to further great triumphs both on and off the field and to a strong financially independent Somerset.He also hoped that during his tenure as chairman that he would see the County Championship pennant flying at the club, a sentiment that was greeted warmly by all of those present.

Relentless pressure from Australia’s bowlers, in particular Brett Lee, proved too much for England in a pulsating finish to the second VB series final at Melbourne. Lee took three wickets in the 48th and 50th overs to deny England after their victory target had appeared well within reach. Australia have taken the series, with the third final at Adelaide now unnecessary.England’s reply began badly, with Brett Lee’s express pace again undoing Marcus Trescothick, who found Andy Bichel at third man with an upper cut. The promotion of Ronnie Irani to number three backfired again as the Essex captain, after swinging Williams for one mid-wicket boundary, was well caught there in the same over close to the rope by Andrew Symonds, whose sunglasses served him well against the evening glare.Knight, who had looked uncomfortable against Lee, was a little unfortunate to pick out Symonds at backward square leg with a firm push. But Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain settled England down, Vaughan with fine timing either side of the wicket and Hussain with some good fortune, edging Lee between keeper and slip and almost perishing when the ubiquitous Symonds couldn’t quite hold on to a chance by the rope at deep square leg.Shane Warne, making his one-day farewell to the MCG, was held back until the 23rd over. When he did come on he was feted by his home crowd, but it was Brad Hogg who made the breakthrough in the next over, when Hussain (28) lost his off stump hitting across the line. But Alec Stewart joined Vaughan to maintain the momentum, with 13 runs coming off Warne in the 27th over. A Matthew Hayden misfield on the mid-wicket boundary gave Vaughan his half-century.Australia made the breakthrough they desperately needed when Vaughan, on 60, clipped Warne straight to Ricky Ponting at short mid-wicket. With the pressure mounting Stewart responded magnificently, driving Warne for ten runs off three balls to keep England on target. He went to his half century with an inside edged two in the same bowler’s next over, but his terrific effort was also halted by Warne, when an airborne cut was held safely by Lee at short third man.A booming boundary over extra cover got Andy Flintoff under way, and another in Warne’s final over brought up England’s 200. Paul Collingwood kept his cool with a succession of ones and twos, but Lee struck immediately on his return to york Flintoff for 16. Ian Blackwell lashed Lee to a diving Damien Martyn at deep gully, and the force was back with Australia.A leg-side yorker was deflected on to Andy Caddick’s stumps off his toes, and James Anderson was run out off his second ball, looking for a single after failing to make contact. After being favourites to win five overs from the end, England had the game stolen from them at the death.Earlier an unbeaten 71 from Brad Hogg enabled Australia to fight back after a middle order collapse. A batting onslaught in the last ten overs propelled Australia to 229 for seven, with Hogg receiving sterling support first from Lee and then from Bichel.In a twist so typical of this unpredictable game Warne, having been cheered all the way to the wicket on his farewell batting appearance in ODIs, was caught and bowled first ball by Irani. If there was dismay as he walked off, the cheering more than made up for it in the end, as Australia’s champion was chaired off by his team at the moment of victory.

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Feb 1 AAP – Ian Harvey is pinching himself.It’s all been a bit of a blur.Last thing Harvey remembers, he was having a counter lunch in the country Victorian town of Ballarat. The telephone rang. It was Australia’s chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, telling him Shane Watson was out of the World Cup.Harvey was in.Now, less than a week later, the 30-year-old allrounder is in South Africa with every chance of taking part in Australia’s opening Cup game against Pakistan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on February 11.”It’s a very exciting time,” he said.”It was unbelievable when Trevor rang me and told me the news. A week ago I wasn’t even coming.”Obviously, what happened to Shane, you don’t wish that on anyone. He wished me all the best and said to have a good trip, which really meant a lot. To get an opportunity to come over here and play for your country, if that happens, it’s a fantastic opportunity to re-prove yourself.”Harvey needs to re-prove himself.His last appearance for Australia was a disaster, conceding 35 runs off four overs and making only 14 as South Africa won by 65 runs at Cape Town. He was subsequently overlooked for an indoor series against Pakistan, then missed six weeks at the start of the summer with a hamstring injury.He was gone as an international. His batting and bowling averages were the wrong way around: 17.87 and 34.59 respectively. Things were bleak for the ‘The Freak.’ Watson was coming good, but then fate dealt him a cruel blow: a back injury.Harvey and Watson spoke at length during the Allan Border Medal presentation last Tuesday night. About 36 hours later, Watson sent his replacement a good-luck e-mail before the team’s flight to Johannesburg on Thursday. Harvey might be about to play a big part in the biggest one-day tournament of all, or no part. Time will tell.”Whether I get selected or not for that first game, I’ve just got to do the best I can,” he said.”I had about six weeks off which was a very disappointing and very frustrating time but at the moment I’m fit, ready to go.”He disagreed with outspoken Victorian coach David Hookes’ recent claim that four straight seasons of county cricket, with a fifth coming up, had taken the zip from his medium-pace bowling.”Hookesy has been fantastic for Victorian cricket, he’s a very good speaker and communicates well,” said Harvey.”I did lose a bit after having six weeks off but I’ve felt over the last couple of games that I’ve started to get that back again. Hopefully he’s just giving me a kick up the bum.”I don’t think playing county has taken a toll at all.”It’s helped my batting, trying to spend more time in the middle. It’s helped my bowling as well. I like to get out there and take wickets and be involved all the time … over there it’s helped me be a lot more patient, bowl line and length and take wickets in a different way, by being patient, instead of trying to bowl two or three outeys and an inny trying to take a wicket.”That’s how I think it’s helped me, but a lot of people may disagree.”What has Hookes advised?”A bit more consistency with my batting and probably summing up the situation in the middle a bit more, and probably sitting back and enjoying my cricket a lot more,” said Harvey.”That all just comes down to knowing what you can do out in the middle.”His (Hookes’) door is always open. We’ve had some good chats about cricket and how he thinks it should be played and how he thinks I should play the game. It’s been very good – at any time I can go to him or ring him and have a really good chat.”Not as good as the chat he had Hohns.Australia is having two days off before returning to training on Monday.

GOLD BOND
SUPER DRAW
Week 8 21/02/03

£2000 JackpotT.5281 M Slowey£500 H.2122 R Mitchell£200 AB4905 C Bremner£200 W.2874 Mrs Nash£100 K.6523 D E Farrar£100 N.3711 Mrs Bennett£100 R.5043 R Spencer£100 AA2890 P Chapman£100 EE6773 K Ditchburn£100 R.2866 P McElroy£100 F.0729 C Hullett£50 L.3528 V Hollinghurst£50 C.3214 D Mallinson£50 SS5930 Mrs Rust£50 V.1935 Mrs Smith£50 AM6506 Mr C Green£50 H.3134 Dave Collins£50 GG2663 G TerryPlus 35 x £25 Winners and over 350Consolations of £5, £10 & £20.Membership costs only £1 per week.To join call 685015Promoter G. Warburton. Reg with the Gaming Board.

Wasim Akram, rated as the greatest one-day bowler by Wisden, today scaled another much-anticipated summit to become the first-ever to 500 one-day international wickets. And though Pakistan scored two runs less than their previous-best of 255 in the 2003 World Cup, it was enough to outclass the Dutch by 97 runs.Despite Pakistan being rather generous in conceding extras (40, which beat their own record of 31 in this World Cup against Australia), the Dutch were skittled out for 156, with 10.3 overs remaining unconsumed.But the day belonged to the 36-year-old Akram, inarguably the greatest left-handed pace bowler to have graced the game. He reached the milestone as Nick Statham played him into the ground only to be mortified to see it deflecting on to the stumps. An elated Akram went into a long celebratory huddle with his delighted mates.Later, when he brought the match to a close with his third wicket, which took his overall tally to 502 in 354 matches, his mates and the team management presented him with a huge bouquet of 500 roses – each rose representing one scalp.Statham’s scalp was the beginning of the end for the Netherlands, as three more wickets went rather quickly, with Akram striking again after Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis had a wicket apiece in between. At 43 for four in ten overs, with none of the top four getting into double figures, an early end seemed nigh. But Daan van Bunge, Tim de Leede, Lucas van Troost and Hendrik-Jan Mol all showed lots of grit and got going, but none progressing farther than van Bunge’s 31. Once Mol got out, three wickets fell quickly and although the last wicket pair of Roland Lefebvre and Jeroen Smits did potter around for a while to add 18 to the total and brought the margin under three figures, the writing was pretty much on the wall.Quite appropriately, Akram finished the Dutch innings with his third wicket.Shoaib Akhtar got another three as the remaining four were shared one each by Waqar, Saqlain, Razzaq and Saeed Anwar.In the end, the greenshirts would be happy to have strung together their second win from four games, and add four points to the previous four they gained against Namibia. These points, crucial as they are, were vitally important to keep alive the dream of a spot in the Super Sixes.For Pakistan, the game yielded quite a few positives. A win is a win, and even if it is against a bottom-ranked outfit, it still adds to the morale and self-belief. And if Pakistan lacks in anything at this point, it is these two vital ingredients. Secondly, with Taufeeq Umar (drafted in for Shahid Afridi), Abdul Razzaq and Yousuf Youhana all batting with a measure of confidence and putting some runs against their names would be of undoubted relief.Inzamam-ul-Haq got a second successive duck, but this time he was not entirely to be blamed for his fall, for his leg-before decision on tv replays showed that there was a tiny inside edge. The point remains though, where was his bat and how come he ‘almost’ missed a good straight ball on the stumps?But Pakistan’s aspiration to overwhelm the Dutch with batting remained unfulfilled especially when skipper Lefebvre provided them an ideal opportunity when he chose to field after winning the toss. Given that Pakistan’s strength was bowling, the motive behind putting Pakistan in may have been to stretch the game as far as possible. Or, after having contained the Indian batting powerhouse to only 204 on this very ground, Lefebvre may have thought that his best chance was in taking advantage of the brittleness of Pakistan batting.If the latter was the intention, he certainly succeeded in restricting Pakistan from scoring heavily. Something in the region of 300 would have been Pakistan’s desire, and despite his modest bowling resources ended up getting nine wickets.Despite fielding a fourth fresh pair of openers in as many games, Pakistan got off to a solid start through Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq.Having posted 61, however, Anwar yet again fell in the 20s, and Taufeeq and Razzaq – who according to manager Shaharyar Khan would from now on be manning the number three position just as he did during the 1999 World Cup – threw it away when their individual fifty was there for the taking.Inzamam, Saleem Elahi, who had come in for injured Younis Khan, and Akram all went cheaply, but Youhana and Rashid Latif provided some substance to the total while Akhtar, promoted after his exploits against England, played out another superb cameo.The total of 253 was some 20 to 30 runs shorter than a stronger finish would have yielded, but that was enough to see off the Dutch.

VIGNE CUP, ROUND 4Here are the scorecards for the missing matches, played on 23 November 2002.

OLD HARARIANS SPORTS CLUB v ALEXANDRA SPORTS CLUB SPORTS CLUBAt Old Hararians Sports Club; 23 November 2002. Match drawn.OLD HARARIANSR W Price c and b Rennie 30R E Butterworth lbw b Benhura 3C H Brewer not out 139D P Viljoen c S Marillier b Cameron 78*P A Strang c Cameron b Anticevich 8G B Brent b Cameron 2H P Rinke not out 5T Benade+S KhanT MashonganyikaA HamidExtras (b 2 lb 1 w 7) 10(5 wkts; 53 overs) 275Anticevich 12 2 45 1Benhura 8 1 22 1Rennie 12 0 63 1Stannard 8 0 53 0D A Marillier 3 0 23 0S J Marillier 5 0 34 0Cameron 5 0 32 2ALEXANDRA SPORTS CLUBD de Beer c and b Brent 31G J Rennie lbw b Price 13J Cameron b Price 0D A Marillier c Brent b Viljoen 76+G C Goosen c Brent b Viljoen 43S J Marillier c sub (Chiwara) b Price 35B Z Benhura c Brewer b Viljoen 2A R G Gilmour c Rinke b Strang 14Q Nkala c Khan b Price 1*C M Anticevich not out 8D D Stannard not out 2Extras (b 12 lb 2 w 4 nb 3) 21(9 wkts; 57 overs) 246Rinke 6 2 29 0Brent 9 0 45 1Price 25 6 70 4Strang 5 1 40 1Viljoen 12 0 48 3UNIVERSALS SPORTS CLUB v TAKASHINGAAt Universals Sports Club; 23 November 2002. Universals won by 50 runs.
The Universals batting card does not add up.UNIVERSALSD D Ebrahim c Chauluka b Maungwa 18*B A Murphy c Samundera b Mbwembwe 14G M Croxford c Chigumbura b Masakadza 79N B Mahwire run out (Mbwembwe) 6I Meman c Manyande b Masakadza 41+N Chouhan c Masakadza b Utseya 0D T Hondo c Maungwa b Masakadza 14S Shah run out (Makoni) 10D R Matambanadzo c Chigumbura b Masakadza 5B Sanyika c and b Masakadza 1K Kondo not out 0Extras (b 7 lb 1 w 4 nb 6) 18(54 overs) 205Maungwa 7 0 38 1Chigumbura 3 0 17 0Mbwembwe 10 4 23 1Mutendera 6 0 28 0Masakadza 14 3 48 5Utseya 14 1 43 1TAKASHINGAK Samundera c Murphy b Mahwire 17E Chauluka b Mahwire 30E Chigumbura c Sanyika b Murphy 16H Masakadza run out (Mahwire) 4G Makoni b Murphy 8S T Makunura b Mahwire 19R N Manyande c Chouhan b Hondo 23A Maungwa c Ebrahim b Mahwire 14P Utseya st Chouhan b Murphy 0D T Mutendera c Meman b Murphy 0A Mbwembwe not out 0Extras (b 4 lb 2 w 2 nb 16) 24(41.4 overs) 155Murphy 19 2 67 4Mahwire 10 2 59 4Hondo 6.4 1 15 1Croxford 4 2 7 0Ebrahim 2 1 1 0

West Indies’ hopes of salvaging the third Test have been dealt a huge blow, after Brian Lara was laid low with a suspected case of chickenpox. Lara, who turned 34 on Friday, spent much of his birthday in the dressing-room, supposedly with a touch of `flu.

If confirmed, Lara would be the second West Indian in the series to contract chickenpox. Jermaine Lawson was forced to withdraw from last week’s second Test, and Ricardo Powell has also suffered the illness recently.

It is terrible bad luck for Lara, who spent several months out of the game last year after contracting hepatitis, but has been in prime form in this series, with two centuries and a 91 in four innings.

Jeff Thomson and David Hookes, the former Australian Test stars, have said that Steve Waugh should retire to allow Australia to build for the future."It’s time to move on and it’s a good time to do it when the opposition isn’t that good,” Thomson was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph newspapers. Top-ranked Australia host bottom-ranked Bangladesh in a two-Test series in Darwin and Cairns next month.”What’s he going to prove if he plays Bangladesh?" asked Thomson. "Who cares if Steve Waugh gets a hundred? If Michael Clarke gets 100, I am sure everybody would be happy to see that or somebody else."Hookes, now a television commentator with Thomson, said that Ricky Ponting should be given the captaincy of the Test side. “I can’t see any point [in] Steve Waugh playing Bangladesh," said Hookes. "He won’t get a hit for starters."Hookes, who been a critic of Waugh for years, said that the 38-year-old Waugh’s presence in the middle order, alongside the 31-year-old Damien Martyn and the 33-year-old Darren Lehmann, would give it an ageing look.

Around 150 of Australia’s 197 living Test cricketers assembled in Sydney on Friday night for a dinner organised by Cricket Australia. Each player received a replica baggy green and a plaque with their representation number on it.The oldest former player attending was Bill Brown, who is 91 later this month, and who was the 150th person to represent Australia. The most recently-capped player, Martin Love, was the 385th.Cricket Australia said it had not decided what to do with the caps of deceased players.