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Bashley-Rydal’s Western Australian prodigy Luke Ronchi smashed the Calmore Sports attack for 144, admitting afterwards that his first 70 runs were "a bit scratchy"!The 21-year old Perth wicket keeper-batsman flayed six 6s and 13 fours in a season’s best ECB Southern Electric Premier League knock which set up Bashley’s 93-run win."There was a lot of playing and missing, particularly before lunch, but I felt pretty good and middled the ball a fair bit later on," he confessed.With the ball moving about off the damp surface, Ronchi had to get his head down and graft during the morning session.But, after enjoying a productive 117-run second-wicket partnership with Chris Sketchley (42), Ronchi came out of his comparative shell – and took the Calmore bowling apart.His pulled two of his sixes into the gardens of houses in the adjoining Bashley Common Road and launched another – off the back foot – clean over the pavilion!In between, spectators were treated to an array of cover drives and pulls, many of which scorched to the boundary.Ronchi was looking good for a double hundred when, to Calmore’s relief, he was caught low down at backward point by James Hibberd for a spectacular 144.It was Ronchi’s first league century of the season, but the summer’s highest individual Premier 1 score.Andy Sexton, with an unbeaten 42, and Richard Knowles took Bashley on to an unassailable 273-4 declared in the 62nd over.Calmore’s reply got off to the worst possible start with Tom Pegler trapped leg before by John Whiting (2-38) and Kevin Nash having Mark Boston caught behind.It was left to Jez Goode to keep the Calmore innings afloat – the stylish left-hander hitting 67 before being brilliantly run out by Dale Middleton at 107-5.Clive Surry and Paul Cass offered middle-order support, but it was Nash, with a season’s best 4-27 off 15 overs, who made significant inroads into Calmore’s top order.The innings lurched to 108-6 before closing at an eventual 180 all out."They took a fair bit of winkling out and it wasn’t until the penultimate over that Andy Sexton finally got the tenth wicket."It was handy being able to bring a spin bowler on at that late stage – and it paid dividends."I could see us not digging them out, as Calmore battled very hard indeed," said triumphaht Bashley skipper Neil Taylor.Andover, the early season pace-setters, were shot out for 94 and comprehensively beaten by eight-wickets by South Wilts at London Road.They struggled after being put into bat on the damp surface, losing half their wickets for 40, with Adam Smith (3-30) causing a lot of early damage.Mark Miller (17) kept Andover buoyant, while Dean Woodhouse (15) offered middle-order resistance in between Paul Draper (3-14) and Shaun Adam (2-26) cutting through the lower order.Russell Rowe (33) gave South Wilts a positive start, laving Jon Nash (26 not out) to guide the visitors to an easy win.Bournemouth bowled bottom-of-the-table Burridge out for 121, but lost six wickets before clinching victory at Chapel Gate.Play began 2-half hours late because of the soaked outfield and immediately Burridge began to struggle with Richard Scott (2-33) nailing Hampshire Under-19 left-hander Ben Thane.Liverpudlian Jo Wilson (4-27) reduced the visitors to 59-5 and, after two wickets each by Dan Jackson and Chris Cole, it appeared as though Burridge might struggle to reach double figures.But some spirited batting by Paul Williams, Paul Wild and Nick Creal in the tail saw them improve from 88-8 to 121 all out.Bournemouth’s push for victory was anything but straightforward, with openers Matt Swarbrick and Alex Allum back in the pavilion with only ten runs on the board.The Sports Club lurched to 33-3 and, after a three-wicket burst by Moen Cheema (3-30), 98-6 (Martin Miller 21).Before Geoff Warrington’s 22 not out guided Bournemouth to a rather unconvincing victory."Both sides bowled pretty well and there wasn’t much good batting around, but the conditions were very damp," said Bournemouth skipper Swarbrick. "We bowled too many extras (32), but got home in the end and really that’s all that matters."

Full of bravado and gumption, Waqar Younis had said before the Sharjah Cup started that his campaign for the 2003 World Cup was to start here. Going by his team’s display in the first outing, they would need to improve, and quite considerably, to be even a serious contender for the World Cup. They were found wanting in all departments of the game, and need to forget the World Cup and tighten up their act to do well in this event. Though Abdul Razzaq (56, off 72 balls) and Rashid Latif (41, off 44) tried to retrieve the situation in a spirited rearguard action, it was indeed too late. A miracle may have saved the day for them, but it didn’t happen and the Lankans in the end cantered off to another facile win, by 41 runs.All credit to the Lankans. They got off to a solid start, and though they tapered off a bit in the middle and later part of their innings, they kept coming back at Pakistan. When Inzamam tore into them, they didn’t lose their nerve, and when Razzaq and Rashid were taking the fight to them, they still had a faith in their ability to make a comeback.Bad at chasing, they never got off to the kind of start that they needed. And Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana, supposedly the two strengths in the middle order, gifted their wickets away. Imran Nazir miscued the pull and paid the penalty. Inzamam, so supremely in control, lost his balance for only an instant, and that was it for him.From then on, it was always going to be difficult, if not impossible, for it was up to the all-rounders to save the day for Pakistan. They did make an effort. Rashid Latif was superb in front of the wicket, better than he was behind it in this game. And he combined well with Razzaq to put up 72 runs for the sixth wicket, his share being an adventrous 41 runs.Razzaq, cool as a cucumber, never give up despite the heat and humidity. With Latif gone, he threw caution to the winds and clobbered Buddika for 16 runs in an over in which 19 were conceded. He didn’t concede till the end, and he went out fighting, having no option to go after Jayasuriya only to find out that he had been caught at the fence by Muralitharan. 198 for 9, it was all over bar the shouting and though Pakistan crossed the 200 mark, Jayasuriya bowled Saqlain behind his legs to finish the match and land the Man of the Match Award.

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan leg-spinner, is determined to use his enforced six-week injury lay-off in a positive manner, and enter the domestic season in October at his fittest.Kaneria broke a finger on August 21 playing for Essex, and had a wire inserted into his finger last week. He has been advised complete rest for the time being.”The specialist, Dr Shahad Ghani, inserted a wire into my finger behind the knuckle of my right ring finger to help mend the fracture and that will stay in there for a month,” Kaneria told . “He has told me not to do any weights or think about cricket for at least a month and probably more like six weeks.”I had to stay in hospital for one night to allow the general anaesthetic to wear off but I was discharged the next day.”I am staying positive about the injury because these things happen in cricket. Instead of being miserable about it I am actually viewing this time as an opportunity to get myself stronger and fitter than I have been for a long time.”Although I cannot lift weights for the short term I will at least be able to start running soon and go on the cycling machine in the gym. The good thing is that Pakistan do not have any cricket coming up so it is not as though I am going to miss a Test series. We next play against India in January.”

November rain in Zimbabwe tends to be short and sharp, but Jupiter Pluviusobviously decided he could do something better for the Pakistani tourists.He started his vandalism in the early hours of the morning, and continued topour down his produce at a greater or lesser intensity throughout the day.Long before the official announcement was made, it was clear play would beimpossible at Country Club on the third and final day of the match betweenZimbabwe A and the Pakistanis.No result was possible even on first innings, as only 13 wickets fell.The leading Pakistani batsmen all enjoyed good innings, though, except for theunfortunate Yousuf Youhana, and their bowlers had a reasonable workout.For Zimbabwe A, Guy Whittall must have ensured his return to the Test team witha fine unbeaten 67, but perhaps none of the young hopefuls in the team wereable in two days to give irresistible evidence to the selectors of theirclaims.The rain looks to be well set in, but in November it rarely lasts more thantwo or three days at the most. Both teams will be hoping that JupiterPluvius does not again intend to depart too far from his usual policy.

Scorecard

Ross Taylor continued his fine form with 150 against Northamptonshire as the New Zealanders opted for batting practice on the final day at Wantage Road. After the home side declared yesterday afternoon there was the prospect of a run-chase being set up, but that clearly wasn’t on the agenda when the New Zealanders batted on after lunch with the lead already at 328.Taylor made the most of the extended time in the middle, hitting 17 fours and six sixes in his 154-ball innings. It followed his unbeaten 154 at Old Trafford, an electric knock which put his team in control on the first two days. He took 14 off an over from Jason Brown, and his main problem was when David Wigley hit him in the groin, cracking his box.However, while Taylor’s form is a plus for the tourists there remain two batting concerns heading into the final Test. James Marshall again fell cheaply on the second evening, and that was followed today by another failure for Daniel Flynn, who gave Wigley his ninth wicket of the match with a bottom edge onto leg stump.Flynn faced just 12 balls in the match on his return to the middle after losing two teeth against a James Anderson bouncer at Old Trafford. His confidence appears to have taken a knock and the New Zealand may consider leaving him out of the final Test. If that is the case, Peter Fulton would be drafted in, but that would still leave an out-of-form Marshall at No. 3.Gareth Hopkins, the reserve wicketkeeper, made 63 off 97 balls, albeit in comfortable conditions after the early threat of a collapse had been banished by a 125-run stand between Taylor and Brendon McCullum.Taylor finally decided he’d had enough time at the crease when he reached 150 and McCullum belatedly declared when Hopkins fell to Andrew Crook. Northamptonshire batted out 20 overs, Stephen Peters cracking a brisk 52, as Tim Southee and Kyle Mills bagged a wicket apiece.

No great expectations accompanied the Indian team that landed inLondon for the 1979 tour. Faulty selection – symbolised by theomission of Syed Kirmani – meant that a rather ill-balanced sidewas sent on what was undoubtedly going to be a tough tour.In the winter of 1978-79, India had lost in Pakistan and thenstruggled at home to beat a mediocre West Indian side, bereft ofthe Kerry Packer defectors. So they could not have been tooconfident on arriving at Heathrow. England, on the other hand, inthe aftermath of the Packer crisis, were very much the leadingcricketing nation, having just returned after thrashing Australia5-1 to regain the Ashes.The worst fears of the Indian cricket follower were confirmed byevents early on the tour. India first lost all their matches inthe second World Cup held prior to the four-Test series. Thelosses to the West Indies and New Zealand were perhapsunexpected, but the most shattering experience was going down toSri Lanka, then not even a full Test nation.When the Test series started, there was no change in thedepressing script. England won the first Test at Birmingham by aninnings and 83 runs with a day to spare. Much the same pattern ofplay was repeated in the second Test at Lord’s. India were shotout for 96 and England replied with 419 for nine declared. Atthis stage a rout along the lines of 1959 and 1974 was freelybeing predicted, and this did not seem to be wide of the mark.From here on, however there was a sudden transformation. Justbefore tea on the fourth day, India – 323 runs behind on thefirst innings – were 99 for two and facing another inningsdefeat. The road to recovery was then laid by Gundappa Viswanathand Dilip Vengsarkar, and their 210-run third wicket partnershipremains one of the most famous rearguard actions in Indiancricket. Viswanath got 113, Vengsarkar scored 103 and, helpedsomewhat by the inclement weather, India, 318 for four at thefinal draw of stumps, earned an honourable draw.There was a metamorphosis from that point as a rejuvenated Indianteam matched England deed for deed. They held their own in therain-affected third Test at Leeds, replying with 223 for six toEngland’s 270. In the final Test at the Oval, India came withinnine runs of pulling off what would have been the most successfulrun-chase in Test history. England seemed to have locked up theseries when, after taking a 103-run first-innings lead, theydeclared at 334 for eight.India were thus set to get 438 to win in 498 minutes. A recordfirst-wicket partnership of 213 runs between Sunil Gavaskar andChetan Chauhan (80) set them firmly on the road towards thedaunting target. Then Gavaskar and Vengsarkar maintained themomentum with a second-wicket stand of 153 runs. When the 20mandatory overs began, India were 328 for one and firmfavourites. Even the shrewd Mike Brearley was at his wit’s end.But Vengsarkar (52) departed at 366, and then a combination ofcircumstances saw England come back into the match. Kapil Dev,who had never really got going in the series, was rather unwiselypromoted to number four and was out for a duck. Gavaskar wasfourth out at 389 for a masterly 221, arguably his greatest-everinnings. A couple of dicey umpiring decisions then went againstIndia, and England clawed their way back. At the end of amemorable and yet ultimately frustrating day, India were 429 foreight. It was a superb display that won them a lot of friends, ifnot the match.The essential problem with the team lay in the composition. Thebatting, manned by Gavaskar, Chauhan, Viswanath, Vengsarkar,Anshuman Gaekwad, Mohinder Amarnath and Yashpal Sharma was fairlystrong, but the bowling was generally weak. The selectors gaveskipper Srinivas Venkataraghavan a young pace bowler, then juston his way up, in Kapil Dev and a rather wayward left-arm seambowler in Karsan Ghavri.Then there were three aging spin bowlers in Bishan Singh Bedi,Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and the captain himself, with only Amarnathto provide support. It was hardly the sort of bowling to causeEngland trouble, and it was no surprise that the home side ran uptotals of 633 for five declared, 419 for nine declared and 334for eight declared. Geoff Boycott got two hundreds and DavidGower an unbeaten double hundred, while Ian Botham hammered 137from just 152 balls with the help of 16 fours and five sixes atLeeds.England’s bowlers however did not gain their wickets easily, forIndia were well-served by the batsmen. Gavaskar rounded off aremarkable 12-month period by scoring 542 runs from seven inningsat an average of 77.43. Fittingly he was named among Wisden’scricketers of the year. Viswanath (341), Vengsarkar (249) andChauhan (179) all lived up to their reputations. Among thebowlers, Kapil Dev stood head and shoulders above everyone else.Still in his first year of international cricket, the sturdilybuilt 20-year-old took 16 wickets at 30.94 apiece to head theaverages. The rest of the bowlers, predictably enough, madelittle impression. In fact, both Chandra and Bedi played theirlast Test matches during the series.On the tour, Gavaskar, thanks to his epic knock at the Oval,crossed the 1,000-run mark finishing with 1,062 runs at anaverage of 55.89. Yashpal Sharma emerged as the most improvedbatsman, heading the figures with 884 runs at an average of58.93. Viswanath and Vengsarkar crossed the 700-run mark, whileGaekwad, Chauhan and Amarnath each made over 500 runs.The bowling figures as expected were less impressive, and Bedi(33), Venkat (34) and Kapil Dev (31) were the only bowlers totake more than 30 wickets. But except for Bedi, all of themproved to be rather expensive. All in all, it was a splendidshowing by a team from which there were no high expectations, andthe final tour results of 16 played, one won, three drawn and 12lost is not a true reflection of the fighting cricket that theyprovided.

‘brinkmanship, n, art and practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limit of safety.’That’s the educational lesson for today for the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association as they ponder the 4pm deadline in which to respond to New Zealand Cricket’s pay offer.More than brinkmanship, it has become an issue of credibility for the entire concept of a players’ association in the game of cricket in this country.Normally, on a subject like this there would be claims of the country being split down the middle on the issue.That has never been the case in this stand-off.It is a clear case of the cricketers being in one camp, and the rest of the country in the other.It is difficult to recall an issue that has seen a mobilisation of public support behind an employer as has occurred in this case.From the outset the Players’ Association have missed out in the public relations stakes. Apart from the blatant grandstanding nature of their claim, the offensive they have mounted against New Zealand Cricket smacks of sheer opportunism, and to Hell with the consequences.It is interesting that a chapter in Chris Cairns’ recently-released book, under the heading ‘Sour Times’ makes the comment: “The story of the last two decades of New Zealand cricket has one constant. Every time a sense of camaraderie has been built, every time team spirit begins to rise and bonds are formed within the squad, something has always come along and rent the team apart.”How appropriately timed!That is the fate of the game once, as expected, 4pm rolls around today with the players not responding to New Zealand Cricket’s claim.Players’ Association advocate Rob Nichol may be right in his claim that the players are behind him 100% in their solidarity.If they are, then their battle plan is out of the Balaclava, Gallipoli and Passchendaele book of disasters.While the long-term results of those military mishaps were the loss of a generation, so too the chance that this will be exactly what happens to New Zealand cricket.That would be a shame for a sport which is only now getting over the ructions from 1992 and 1995 that almost ripped the heart out of the game here.But as the players who went through that era will know, the game did survive. There will be tough times again. But there is likely to be a great deal more sympathy as New Zealand attempts to rebuild after this latest episode with new players than was the case for earlier teams trying to establish themselves.For that is what lies ahead of the game now. The general public see a fair wage offer on the table, and look at ordinary results, especially in the money-making one-day game. Is it little wonder that the players’ stance has developed so little support.The bells toll for 4pm.DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed herewith are not necessarily those of New Zealand Cricket.

Northern Districts, the first of New Zealand’s major associations to present their annual report this year, have declared a loss for the past season.The loss was $72,991, a turnaround of $137,393 after last year’s surplus of $57,402.Sponsorships, donations and grants improved by nearly $17,000 and gate income increased by $19,000 and sundry costs, including interest payments, were down by $53,000.Taking part in cricket competitions cost nearly an extra $70,000 last summer while coaching and development costs were up by just over $70,000.Despite the financial result, the ND Association’s general reserves showed a $20,000 improvement and now sit at $1,630,784.ND chief executive officer John Turkington said: “Financially, it has been a very challenging season and obviously it is disappointing to record a small net deficit after a few years of surpluses.”Whilst we are becoming increasingly dependent on funding from NZC and they in turn on the international product, we need to continue to maximise local funding to enhance our programmes.”Next season promises to be an even greater challenge,” he said.

India have been beaten for the first time in the NatWest Series, after England completed an emphatic 64-run victory at The AMP Oval in the dress rehearsal for Saturday’s final at Lord’s. Ronnie Irani was made Man of the Match after adding five Indian wickets to his first half-century in one-day internationals. For good measure he also took the catch which completed England’s win.Needing to score at a shade over seven an over to win a game reduced by rain to 32 overs a side, India had started confidently. Sehwag, perhaps lucky to survive a caught behind appeal in Gough’s second over, hit Tudor for 15 in an over, including a brace of off-side fours and a hooked six. Flintoff’s first ball was whipped through square leg with astonishing power. To England’s huge relief Sehwag was caught behind in Irani’s first over. His 46 had come off a mere 41 balls.Ganguly had already departed in bizarre fashion, stepping away to drive Tudor, and playing well away from his body to give Flintoff a straightforward slip catch. After promising a productive stand with Tendulkar, Laxman was caught at mid-off, pulling too soon at Collingwood. Yuvraj was out to an extraordinary stumping, after a wide from Irani was gathered by the excellent Stewart, who waited for Yuvraj to lift his foot before taking off the bails. To say it was a hairline decision by third umpire Mallender would be putting it mildly; it required several minutes’ deliberation.Although Tendulkar raised the tempo with three boundaries in an over off Flintoff, Irani quickly struck again, bowling Kaif between bat and pad. Ratra, playing back, was caught by Stewart for just two. When Agarkar clipped his second ball to Collingwood, Irani had five and his joy was unconfined. Not since Mike Hendrick against Australia in August 1980 had an England bowler taken five wickets at The Oval, and Irani’s five for 26 bettered even Hendrick’s figures.To a massive roar from the now near-capacity Oval crowd, Hoggard made the decisive breakthrough when Tendulkar was caught behind. After that it was academic; Gough held Khan at mid-off as he drove at Flintoff, although a limping Kumble (who needed Ratra to run for him) shared a defiant and entertaining last-wicket stand with Nehra before he swung Tudor to the ubiquitous Irani at long-on.Earlier, Ganguly had made some shrewd bowling changes after putting England in. Kumble, brought on first change, yorked Trescothick with his first ball. Yuvraj Singh accounted for Knight, who had begun aggressively but top-edged a sweep for Kaif to take a brilliant, diving catch running round from square leg. Enter Flintoff, who gave England the mid-air refuelling they needed. Highlights included a mid-wicket six off Kumble, and a straight drive so fierce that Sehwag, the bowler, covered his head as it passed him. Agarkar was smashed through mid-wicket, extra cover and square leg, Ganguly behind cover point.Irani, dropped on 20 by Kaif off Yuvraj, found himself playing a supporting role. It ended when Flintoff hoisted Agarkar high to mid-wicket, where Nehra took a steepler with calm assurance. Flintoff’s 51 came off 38 balls, with a six and six fours. Vaughan, after a mid-wicket four off Agarkar, should have been caught there by Ganguly in the same bowler’s next over. India missed another chance when Ratra failed to stump Irani as he charged Yuvraj; the batsman celebrated with six over long-off. Vaughan, having just clipped Khan for a remarkable six behind square leg, fell caught by Yuvraj at third man.Irani, after completing his first ODI 50 off 53 balls, was bowled swinging across the line at Kumble. In the last-minute rush Nehra bowled Collingwood in similar fashion, and Hussain hit Khan down Kaif’s throat at long-on. Stewart was out first ball, bowled as he tried to guide a straight ball from Khan to third man, but Gough finished the innings in characteristically exuberant style, hitting the last ball for six over mid-wicket. It looked a respectable total; in the event it was comfortably enough.

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson will be spending the day along with his players at Lympstone on Wednesday, where he will join them on the Royal Marines assault course.Earlier this week he told me, “I’ve been talked into competing in a training day at Lympstone on Wednesday. The lads are looking forward to me negotiating the underground pipes!”In addition to his day job at Somerset Mr Anderson is a busy man at the moment.”I’m busy taking my level 2 ECB Coaching Certificate which will be very useful to me for three reasons. Firstly it will help me at Seaton Cricket Club where I’m a pretty involved on a voluntary basis, secondly it will be good for me as a chief executive to see another perspective on the game, and thirdly I hope it will be an example to others,” the Somerset boss told me.Mr Anderson is also attending an ECB Groundsman’s course.” This will help me in my duties as groundsman at Seaton Cricket Club, and it will also help me to add to my knowledge of their job, having a top groundsman here at Taunton, not that I am going to challenge him!”