Lancashire, the specialists of one-day cricket, had their sight fixed firmlyon a Lord’s final as they moved so comfortably towards it with an emphaticeight-wicket victory over Surrey, with fourteen overs to spare, in aquarter-final of the NatWest Trophy.Going by the performance of these two sides in the other competitions – theyare the top two teams in the county championship and while Lancashire are atthe bottom of Division One in the National League and Surrey on top ofDivision Two – this fixture was expected to provide an exciting tussle and aclose finish.As it turned out, Surrey were totally outplayed on a day when Lancashire’sburly all-rounder Andrew Flintoff produced an awesome batting display. Itwas a superb performance, not one of wild slogging but, indeed, ofhard-hitting, entertaining stroke-play. Surrey’s bowling was depleted in theabsence of the in-form Martin Bicknell, who suffered a back injury bowlingin the nets yesterday. But with Flintoff in such form, a full attack ofSurrey would have made little difference.Dominating partnership – almost 200!Having been set a fair target of 211 for victory, Lancashire lost a quickwicket, that of Michael Atherton, to the third ball of the innings, withouta run on the board. But that was to be Surrey’s only success – and one thatraised their hopes – until towards the end of the innings when SouravGanguly lashed out at a ball from Alex Tudor to be caught at slip havingreached a relatively patient half-century from 85 balls.The magnificent partnership between Flintoff and Ganguly, which ended justten short of a double century, took the game rapidly away from Surrey asFlintoff, in particular, dominated the bowling during his 110-ball innings of 135 not out.Astonishingly, a hundred of those runs came from boundaries and that shouldbe an accurate indication of the power in his shots. With a battingexhibition such as that, and Flintoff in such belligerent mood, Ganguly,himself such a brilliant batsman, was happy to play the supporting role.Flintoff reached his half-century with two sixes in one over from JasonRatcliffe and increased the tempo of his batting as he progressed towardshis century. On 67, however, he was lucky not to have been given out legbefore wicket in Ian Salisbury’s first over and a run later he was droppedin the slips off the same bowler. But, following the pattern of batting inlimited-over’s cricket he went on, undeterred, to see his side home.Surrey’s confident start checked by spinnersSurrey had, earlier, justified their decision to bat first with an openingstand of 80 and then lost wickets to the turning ball as the combination ofoff-spinner Gary Yates and leg-spinner Chris Schofield rocked them back ontheir heels.Alec Stewart had set the scoring pace early for Surrey with his confidentstroke-play and was well supported by Ian Ward. But having got off to a finestart, Stewart, just one short of his half-century, attempted to square-cutleft-arm spinner, Gary Keedy but chopped the ball on to his stumps.The next two wickets went in quick succession with Yates drawing Ward out ofhis crease to be smartly stumped and then he had Alistair Brown caught froma reverse sweep. Surrey were 109 for 3.Schofield takes important wicketsThirty runs later, the Hollioake brothers fell in the same over. Schofieldfirst bowled Adam as he tried to sweep him and four balls later Ben wentdown the wicket, missed the ball and wicket-keeper Warren Hegg did therest.Graham Thorpe meanwhile picked up the runs steadily and when he was finallycaught at deep mid-wicket off a full toss from Schofield, for 55 from 67balls, Surrey were 182 for seven.With the help of Ian Salisbury, 21 not out, Surrey eventually reached 210without further loss, from 50 overs of which Schofield bowled ten andclaimed four important wickets for 41.

Kerala made adequate amends to their previous disastrous battingdisplay against Andhra to end at 266 for 6 on the first day of theirSouth Zone Ranji Trophy match against Goa at the Jawaharlal NehruStadium in Kochi on wednesday.Put into bat, Kerala openers V Girilal (26) and MP Sorab (38) put on asolid 69 runs in 24.4 overs. Sorab was the first to be dismissed,caught by Tanveer Jabbar off SA Khalid. Three overs later his partnerGirilal departed for a catch to ND Kambli off Kalekar. R Menon (28) NAKudua (27) then added 52 runs for the third wicket to take the scoreto 125.But Goa seamer Avinash Aware (3 for 51) struck three vital blows tosend back Menon, Kudua and B Ramprakash. Kerala suddenly looked downthe barrel but Sunil Oasis (47 runs 104 balls 6 fours) and SreekumarNair (45 not out) came to their rescue with a 80 run sixth wicketpartnership. After a 181 minute stay at the crease Oasis fell legbefore to Khalid to pave the way for the Kerala skipperAnanthapadmanabhan (27 not out). The two then negotiated the rest ofthe overs and ensured no further hiccups for the hosts.

Punjab scored a comprehensive 162 run victory over unfancied Jammu andKashmir in the Ranji One-Day clash at the Model Sports Complex inDelhi today. On winning the toss, Punjab skipper Vikram Rathourelected to bat first. This turned out to be the perfect decision. Inthe company of promoted mediumpacer Sandeep Sharma (31), Rathour madea useful 84 (112 balls, 11 fours) at the top of the order.However, it was not the opening stand of 52 that made life difficultfor J&K. Coming in number three, Dinesh Mongia clattered the bowlingto all parts of the ground. The southpaw played one of his finestinnings thus far, making a mammoth 158 off just 116 balls. In thecourse of his assault, he sent the ball skidding across the turf tothe boundary sixteen times and even cleared the ropes on fouroccasions. Adding 145 for the second wicket, the Rathour-Mongiacombine put the match past J&K. Even after Rathour was bowled by VijaySharma, Mongia was unstoppable.The rest of the Punjab team batted around Mongia and reached amatchwinning 320 in fifty overs. Faced with the Herculean task ofchasing 320, J&K collapsed for a meagre 158. Lasting just 41 overs,J&K were never in the hunt. Stumper R Bali at the top of the ordermade 57 opening the batting, but he found no support. Recent IndiaTest cap Sharandeep Singh picked up 3/27 as Punjab crushed J&K.

Shiv Sunder Das, whose sterling performance helped India break the 15-year-old jinx of not being able to win a Test match outside the subcontinent, has been offered an executive post in the Steel Authorityof India Limited (SAIL) by the Indian Steel Minister Braja KishoreTripathy.Praising Das for his determination to rise as a great player, theMinister said in a press statement, “Das has brought laurels to theentire nation and established himself as an eminent player.”The stocky opener from Orissa had hit an unbeaten 82 in the secondinnings besides contributing a cameo knock of 30 in the first andtaking three catches in the match to help India register acomprehensive eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first of the twoTests against hosts Zimbabwe

LONDON. The statistical result of this ongoing triangular Series notwithstanding, on record is achievement of another kind. Barring very minor omissions, this contest is, so far, less acrimonious and certainly scandal free and controversy free if one discounts Shoaib Akhtar’s theatricals. The code of conduct is an effective deterrent but what one sees as a positive factor is that all teams reflect players competitive, yet keener to play and follow the spirit of the game. It is this commitment that stands out brightly in the current contests.The Australians certainly stand out as the one’s to follow in conduct and character, and the English, though not always angelic, are no less. But the surprise is the Pakistan team, a model of behaviour, even counting the Palmer ‘wide’ protest at Lord’s. They are no longer cocky, arrogant and short of patience as previously. If they had no appetite for being ‘second best’ previously, it does not feature now in their mannerism. And seems well sated due that Test series loss to England in Pakistan. They no longer think of themselves as all-conquering heroes and do not take affront to any relief denied them on the field. Humble and humane, they willingly get themselves photographed with fans and sign autographs. This has endeared them even to the local tabloids and missing are those unrelenting attacks on them in previous tours, notably 1992.Another factor that may have influenced this ‘amicable’ nature from Pakistanis, could be the approach of Alec Stewart and Steve Waugh, who like Waqar Younis, emerge as captains of heart and soul, supported by other players as keen to be honest competitors. It is this commitment that has served them well this contest and augurs well for the coming matches. And the future too.Waqar Younis, a little unsure at start of the tour, has led his charges well, leading from the front. It is no new responsibility for him, yet he so does under the shadows of living legends like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram, with expectations high. A lion he may not be, yet no less a tiger he is. And his bowling under pressure at Lord’s epitomised that and reminded one and all of his last five balls at Sharjah, 1991, when hit for a six by Bishop off the first ball of the last over, bowled four dot balls before bowling Bishop last ball for a one run win for Pakistan. Wounded Lions (England) and Prowling Tigers (Australia) still await him and his team at matches ahead and he need not drop his guard.Waqar Younis’s team has given its 100% so far, sweating and straining beyond their limits and potential. They have to retain their passion to be so committed and reflect their infinite resoluteness, confidence and pluck in coming matches, more so against Australia. And even England. This because, England undeterred by back-to-back losses, plan to come back in the last match, and the Australians on the roll.Much that Pakistan takes heart from the fact that England are out of the final spot, Pakistan must maintain consistency in matches to come. They play Australia at Chester-le-Street on 16th and then days later at Trent Bridge on the 19th in a D/N encounter. First and foremost in their minds must be the heart to make a match of these encounters and not face the humiliation England suffered at Australian hands at Old Trafford. Conceded that McGrath and others reflect penetrative consistency, they also have batsmen to countermine that. Required is the application to stay at the crease and runs will flow as desired.Likewise, they should not take England lightly at Headingley on 17th June. As Steve Waugh puts it so correctly ‘if you are losing it always creates a few little doubts’. Thus a win is a must at Headingley to take Pakistan into the final at Lord’s on June 23 with an appreciably higher morale. And morale can get up if they are able to post at least one win against the Australians in the coming two matches.It has often been stated that no man or woman was ever so much deceived as by him or herself. And, that the most deluded are the self-deluded. This the Pakistan team should keep in mind. If they retain and sustain their ‘never-say-die’ attitude reflected at Old Trafford and Lord’s, there is no reason why they should not be worthy opponents to Australia in the final at Lord’s. A day, which may reverse the result of the 1999 World Cup final.

The demand for Sourav Ganguly’s head is steadily increasing with everyfailure of the Indian skipper but the team is solidly standing by him.After Ganguly was dismissed for just two in yesterday’s triangularone-day series match against Zimbabwe, Melbourne Radio rang up teammanager Chetan Chauhan to know why the stylish left-hander should notbe asked to sit out and sort out his batting blues rather than be aliability to the team.”I have a lot of time for him,” was Chauhan’s cryptic reply which putan end to the issue.A desperate Ganguly also sought to draw solace from his openingpartner Sachin Tendulkar’s clean chit to his batting technique. “He(Tendulkar) has assured me that my technique is okay and I should notworry on that count,” the skipper said, while putting up a brave faceamidst continued failures.”I know the runs would come shortly. I can feel it from inside,” saidGanguly who has led India to five wins in eight Tests.But that has not prevented the critics from raising the shrill overhis inability to get the runs. The website of the company telecastingthe series is flooded with hate mails for Ganguly and questions on hisform and captaincy are appearing on the ballot boxes of various othersites.The pressure is showing on the captain who is not leaving any stoneunturned in his efforts to get back to his scoring ways. He is havingan extra session in the nets and is usually on the ground an hourbefore the team arrives for practice.This, from a man who usually does not like to bat much at the nets. “Ido not quite like batting in the nets but if that is the answer (to mybad form), so be it,” he said.In the matches too, he has tried various methods to break the shell.He briefly toyed with the idea of going on the attack to shrug off hispoor form but discarded it quickly after it failed to click, and hedid not want to be seen as an irresponsible batsman.He did not duck his responsibility even when he had to face the newball on the fourth morning of the Harare Test though it ended in anyet another failure.But it’s not the efforts but the figures alongside his name on thescoreboard that count and Ganguly needs to get those as quickly aspossible to silence his critics.In yesterday’s match, he took two wickets while bowling and thoughtthat finally his time with the bat too might have arrived. Alas, thatdid not happen and Ganguly had to be satisfied with his bowlingcontribution only.His deputy Rahul Dravid answered his detractors in style when hescored a brilliant 180 in that epic match-winning association with VVSLaxman in the second Test against Australia in Kolkata, and Gangulyknows he will have to come up with a similar effort to turn hisfortunes around.But till that happens, his – and his fans’ – agonies will continue tohaunt him.

Three talented Indian cricketers are into the final phase of trainingat the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide as part of theBorder-Gavaskar scholarship programme.Vinayak Mane, Parthiv Patel and Deepak Chougle from the NationalCricket Academy in Bangalore are into their sixth week of specialistcoaching under former Australian wicket-keeper-batsman Wayne Phillips.”I believe these three young men will leave Australia bettercricketers. I think the scholarship programme is a great initiativethat can only be for the good of the game, given that it providesyoung players with the opportunity to hone their skills in foreignconditions,” Phillips said.The programme is funded by the Australia-India Council (AIC), whichhas made a significant contribution to the ties between the twonations. In addition to the scholarships, AIC has also contributed tothe production costs of the modernised Border-Gavaskar Trophy won byIndia after the thrilling Test series in March this year.”AIC is delighted that this scholarship programme is now in its secondterm, helping to strengthen the sporting links between Australia andIndia. It is an important part of AIC’s programme of promotingunderstanding and co-operation between the two countries throughprojects and exchanges, including sport,” AIC Chairman Michael Abbottsaid.Last year’s batch of scholarship holders included India’s new Testopener Shiv Sunder Das.

The difference the absence of just one player can make! If at all anyproof was required that the Indian team would greatly miss SachinTendulkar’s omnipotent presence, the first two matches in the Coca-Cola Cup in Colombo have proved it. The team just does not have thenecessary qualities needed to offset the advantage that Tendulkar’spresence gives it.Yes, one understands it is not easy for any team to recover from theabsence of a leading player, particularly one of Tendulkar’s sublimecapabilities. If anything is evident, it’s not just the batting buteven the bowling that has been weakened. But more than the batting,bowling or fielding, what has really hit the Indian team is the simplefact that Tendulkar is not around. His mere presence is enough to liftthe team’s morale.Mentally, the team has been hit and perhaps this has turned out to bethe most important factor. But it is true that Tendulkar’s absence hasalso led to a number of changes which may not augur well for the team.For starters, it was taken for granted that there had to be a newopening partner for Sourav Ganguly. But in the first two matchesitself, there have been two separate combinations tried out. AmayKhurasiya was chosen specifically as a replacement for Tendulkar,going by the statements made by the selection committee chairmanChandu Borde. But obviously the team management can’t seem to decideon the opening combination. Why has Yuvraj been pushed to open thebatting when his place is obviously in the middle order? And in theabsence of Tendulkar, should it not be imperative for Ganguly to openthe innings? And yet against Sri Lanka, Ganguly inexplicably droppedhimself down the order. Somehow Tendulkar’s absence has weakened notonly the top order but also the entire batting line-up. It has alsoled to a change in plans but the team is yet to hit upon a winningstrategy. They seemed to be going in for unnecessary desperatemeasures. Witness the needless tactic of sending Harbhajan Singh at No4 against Sri Lanka. It’s a confused team management out there inColombo.The bowling too looks thin in the absence of Tendulkar. His ODI careerfigures of 101 wickets at a strike rate of 56.4 with a best of fivefor 32 clearly illustrate Tendulkar’s value to the side both as onewho can curb the scoring as also his ability as a change bowler usedto break partnerships. And in the event of a leading bowler notplaying – like Ashish Nehra missing out the game against Sri Lanka -the Indian bowling really looked fragile. Against both New Zealand andSri Lanka, they let the opponents off the hook and on pitches thatwere helpful to bowlers. The batting, with the uncertainty at the topand the inexperience in the middle, really cries out for Tendulkar, asthe collapse in both the games clearly illustrates.The value of the bench strength in any side is vital if it is toovercome the sudden withdrawal of a prima donna. The Indian team justdoes not have the resources required to make good the absence of agiant like Tendulkar. That is the most obvious lesson driven home byevents in the first two matches in the Colombo competition.

Sir Donald Bradman was first impressed by Sachin Tendulkar whilewatching a one-day game against Australia in the 1996 World Cup andnever missed a chance to see an innings from the Indian maestro afterthat, the book ‘Bradman’s Best’ reveals.”Australia won (that match) but not before a stunning 90 fromTendulkar that captured the Don’s attention,” the book, whichchronicles each of the 12 members of the ‘Dream Team’ selected byBradman, says in the chapter ‘The Star of India’.The book, authored by Roland Perry which has seen just half a day inthe shops, has already become a best-seller with a strong responsereported from buyers.”He was most taken in by Tendulkar’s technique, compactness and hisshot production and had asked his wife to have a look at the Indian ashe felt that Tendulkar played like he had. Jessie agreed that theyappeared similar.”Bradman never missed a chance to see Tendulkar from then until theend of the 1999 three-match Test series in Australia,” the book says.”Bradman ranked Brian Lara and Tendulkar as the best batsmen in theworld and found it difficult to judge who was better. He thought thatTendulkar had a very sound defence while Lara was marginally moreaggressive and took more risks.”By 2000, he held the view that they were the best in world cricket,but that Tendulkar just pipped Lara as the world’s number one,” itsays.Perry adds that by mid-1998, after watching Tendulkar destroyAustralia in Tests and one-day games in India, Bradman ranked him withBarry Richards, Arthur Morris and Gary Sobers.”Not long after that series against Australia, Tendulkar received theinvitation of a lifetime to join Shane Warne in meeting Bradman at hisKensington Park home in Adelaide on his 90th birthday (August 27,1998). Tendulkar was honoured to be told by Bradman that he wastoday’s best batsman. They discussed Gary Sobers, whom Bradman hadlong regarded as the best cricketer of all time,” the book reads.On their meeting, Perry writes, “Tendulkar asked Bradman how heprepared himself before a big match. Bradman replied that when he wasin Adelaide he would go to his job as a sharebroker for several hoursbefore going to the ground.”Sometimes he would even toss the coin still wearing his suit. Afterthe game he would return to the office for several more hours. When hewas playing games away from Adelaide, he would go for a long walkbefore and after the match.”After the meeting, Bradman told Perry how impressed he was withTendulkar and how he expected him to go on to even greaterachievements. With a little luck, he will have another decade at thetop, the Don told Perry.”Sir Don found Sunil Gavaskar a fine technician but thought his chieffault was lack of aggression. Bradman noted, it is not sufficient tokeep the ball out of the stumps and not give a catch. There is need toattack, take the initiative from the bowlers and set up conditions forthe batsmen to follow.”After the Don stopped South Africa from touring Australia in 1971-72,he had set up alternative teams. The world squad included SunilGavaskar, Gary Sobers, FM Engineer, Rohan Kanhai, Zaheer Abbas, CliveLloyd and Tony Greig,” it says.The book also contains a letter by Gavaskar to Tendulkar when thelatter failed to win the Mumbai Cricket Associations Best JuniorCricketer Award.”The ‘Little Master’ commended Tendulkar on his performance and askedhim not to be disappointed. Gavaskar wrote, If you look at the bestaward winners, you will find one name missing and that person has notdone too badly in Test cricket!!”

Durham’s 20-year-old left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge bowled unchanged for 35.1 overs to take six for 84 and leave the match against Hampshire at Chester-le-Street finely balanced after two days.In his sixth Championship match, this was Bridge’s first five-wicket haul as the visitors were dismissed for 312, 11 behind.In six overs’ batting Durham reached nine without loss in their second innings.James Brinkley removed the top four, all to edged catches, as he again bowled his away swing with good control.After an opening stand of 58 he took three wickets in two overs to reduce Hampshire to 63 for three before Will Kendall played impressively on a ground where he has scored two centuries.He fell one short of only his second Championship half-century of the season when he edged Brinkley to first slip, where Paul Collingwood clung on well for his third catch.He also dived forward at short mid-wicket to catch Neil Johnson, who cruised to 27 then carelessly chipped a catch to give Bridge his first wicket just before lunch.Adrian Aymes cut Bridge straight to slip and when Shaun Udal drove recklessly to mid on before he had scored Hampshire were struggling at 203 for seven.Dimitri Mascarenhas played very responsibly in holding them together with an innings of 76 in 154 balls, which featured ten fours.He drove and pulled with excellent timing and there was a bonus for Hampshire in the batting form of James Schofield, making his Championship debut.He struck four boundaries in his 21 not out before Alex Morris was last out, edging Bridge to Andrew Pratt after hitting seven fours in making 52 off 79 balls.