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For a moment, it seemed it would end as it had opened. Pakistan’s tour to Australia began with a humiliating defeat at Perth and at first, today’s finale was hauntingly familiar. Eventually, Pakistan fought back just as they had done on Friday, and they pushed Australia most of the way. But once Adam Gilchrist and, in particular, Glenn McGrath had done what they do so well, the fight didn`t matter.It is a sign of how resoundingly McGrath has answered those who suggested he was finished, that there is now as much talk and applause – ironic though it may be – about his batting as there has always been about his bowling. It means that his primary function, and itseffectiveness, is once again unquestioned. He picked up five wickets today, throttling any notions of a fight at the very top of the order and snuffing out clear signs of it at the bottom.McGrath was always going to get one, if not two, of the top three out – he has made men with much better techniques than Kamran Akmaland Mohammad Hafeez look silly often enough. But it was his dismantling of the linchpin of Pakistan’s hopes, Inzamam ul Haq that bore testament to McGrath’s ability to rip the heart out of sides just when itmatters.He bowled two balls in what should now officially be rechristened the"Corridor of McGrath", both just short of a length with a slight hint of away movement outside off-stump, before pitching the third delivery much fuller and nipping it back. Traditionally a scratchy starter,Inzamam was trapped on the crease and plumb in front. Pakistan’s captain and star batsman, with five fifties and 364 runs inthe last seven matches, was gone, and the match, in essence,was over.At least Pakistan will not have to hire a rocket scientist to see where they went wrong. Today, as has been the case throughout the VB Series, they might as well not have had a top three. In eight matches, Pakistan tried three different opening combinations and three different No. 3s. Akmal, a gritty lower-order batsman and an increasingly impressive wicketkeeper, became an unlikely opener. Salman Butt, who had faded as the series went on, was replaced today by Taufeeq Umar, once a specialist Test opener but now playing his first international of any variety in almost a year.Shoaib Malik, fast becoming a sturdy upper-order fulcrum, was inexplicably shifted from that position in this tournament. Mohammad Hafeez, back in the side to make up for the loss of Malik’s bowling, instead took his batting place and barely bought a run. Given that neither Inzamam nor Youhana are keen to bat at No. 3, the refusal to let the proven Malik bat there was bewildering.If it seems a muddled policy, then it made for disastrous results as well; Pakistan’s "starts" in this series have been 30 for 2, 36 for 2, 38 for 3, 65 for 2, 41 for 2, 9 for 3, and 38 for 3. That they had managed to stay afloat this far had been due, almost entirely, to the efforts of Inzamam and, in particular, the lower-order of a revitalized Abdul Razzaq (is it the spinach?) and Shahid Afridi.It is a shame they crumbled again, for by doing apassable impression of Sri Lanka in the field, theyhad done wonderfully well to restrict Australia’sbatsmen for the second time in three days. Much of SriLanka’s success in ODIs, and some of it has come againstAustralia, has been based on the slow choke – a method that is effective on sluggish pitches with a number ofquickish spinners who aren’t really spinners. Theydart, rather than flight the ball; they often choosenot to extract significant turn, and they hurry through their overs, never allowing batsmen to settle.In the past, the likes of Jayasuriya, Chandana, Arnold and Dharmasena have successfully strangled Australian run-scoring in the middle overs, and today, the ebullient Afridi and Hafeez played the part admirably, first hauling back a Gilchrist-fuelled run-rate and then picking up crucial wickets in the middle order. They were backed up well by the seamers, and if Rana’s opening over lbw appeal against Gilchrist had been upheld, it might have made a difference (and despite what commentators have said, there have been more than a few appalling decisions in this series).Gilchrist’s hand was characteristically abnormal and crucial; on a pitch where many struggled to get the ball away, he started as if he was batting in the nets. A sumptuous straight drive, a stinging square cut and a spanked cover-drive – three boundaries in the first over and six (as well as a hooked six) in total where his team-mates combined to hit twelve in the 41 overs after his dismissal. He did his thing then, McGrath did it later.

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper, believes that a positive approach can help his side upstage India in the forthcoming seven-match one-day series, starting at Nagpur on October 25.”Our goal I believe is to go out there and from day one to make sure that everyone means business,” said Sangakkara, who has become the foremost batsman in his side. “We should go there expecting to win every game. When you go to a country like India you must have that in mind and make it work for you rather than psychologically say that it is a difficult task. You have to make it a challenge so that it works in your favour.””Australia did it last year very convincingly. I think challenges like that are there to be taken and won. The approach of the team mentally both on and off the field should be to concentrate and focus on beating India in India.”Sangakkara, who turns 28 on October 27, believes that over the past two to three years there has been fierce competition in the South Asian region amongst Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka for supremacy and that Sri Lanka had come out ahead in most encounters.”This tour is another test for us,” he continued. “It is another challenge when you go to a country which has a very proud cricketing history and a very strong cricket team at the moment. We have been playing well in the past year. Our team has been jelling well and we’ve got some classic performances. It is just being more consistent on the base that we’ve got to get right now. We just have to make sure that we treat it as another game. Play the ball and not the individual and play to win.”Reflecting back from the time he came into the Sri Lankan side, in 2000 against South Africa at Galle, Sangakkara was happy that he could see the steady progress made by the team in the last five years. “Team wise we saw the captaincy go from Sanath [Jayasuriya] to Hashan [Tillakaratne] and now to Marvan [Atapattu]. Each team under those captains have performed in different ways, but the trend has always been improvement, to get stronger. We’ve had great performances and bad performances. But if you take our performances over the past five years there has been a steady climb in consistency in the win factor.”From a personal point of view Sangakkara said his game had undergone quite a lot of changes in his batting as well as his wicketkeeping. With a Test average of 48.02 from 50 Tests and a one-day average of 33.61, Sangakkara ranks among the best of contemporary wicketkeeper-batsmen. “My approach to batting is to make sure that I keep it simple,” he said. “I want to know what I am doing with myself and what my batting is like when I go out there to bat. I have a lot of feedback from the coach, the players and video analysis. When I see myself batting on screen I see more things than when I am batting out in the middle. I work a lot on balance and watching the ball. There is no great secret to it, just the basics.”

ScorecardCentral Districts defeated Auckland by 55 runs after scoring 229 for 8. Mathew Sinclair led the way with an unbeaten 95 after CD found themselves in a spot of bother at 36 for 2. Jamie How, who was dismissed for 45, put on 63 with Sinclair. Auckland’s response began with a stutter. At 10 for 3, they were already on the defensive. Then Matt Horne fell for 16 (39 for 4). Kyle Mills and Paul Hitchcock scored defiant 40s and put on 87 for the seventh wicket, but their dismissals effectively signalled the end of Auckland’s chances.
ScorecardWellington beat Otago in a close high-scoring encounter at the Basin Reserve. Chris Gaffaney’s 84 was instrumental in Otago’s cempetetive total of 262 – a score that could have been larger if more batsmen had converted their starts. Stephen Fleming then steadied Wellington’s innings with 64 off 57 balls after an unsteady start. But the most significant batting came from James Franklin and Luke Woodcock, who put on 78 for the sixth wicket. Franklin was in outstanding touch and scored 76 off 65 deliveries, while Woodcock hit 39. The match went into the final over, but Mayu Pasupati, unbeaten on 30, took his team past the target with a powerful blow.
ScorecardAfter a good 142-run opening stand which took them to within 114 of victory, Canterbury lost the plot and fell short of Northern Districts’ score of 255 by 15 runs at Gisborne. The feature of ND’s innings was the 109-run stand between James Marshall and Scott Styris for the third wicket. The lower order chipped in with useful contributions, with Peter McGlashan ending the innings on a lively note, scoring an unbeaten 20 off 13 balls. Canterbury’s bowlers struggled. Nathan Astle was the most successful, taking 2 for 40, while Stephen Cunis kept a tidy line and length to finish with 1 for 32. Astle was immediately in the action with the bat in a superb opening stand with Michael Papps. Papps was out for 51 but Astle carried on to score 123. The remaining batsmen were unable to push on to victory as Graeme Aldridge took 4 for 46. His victims were all dangerous strokeplayers who could have sealed the game for Canterbury: Craig McMillan for 17, Chris Cairns for 3, and Cunis and Hayden Shaw for ducks.

The Pakistan team has been fined for a slow-over rate in the second one-dayer against India at Rawalpindi.Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC match referee, ruled that Pakistan was three overs short at the stipulated cut-off time. While the team was penalised 15% of their match fee, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, had to concede 30%. According to ICC regulations: (i) for each of the first five overs short of the minimum overs required, 5% of each player’s gross match fee in the fielding side; (ii) for the sixth and any subsequent over short of the minimum overs required, 10% of each player’s gross match fee in the fielding side.”Pakistan were earlier penalised for a slow over-rate in the first one-dayer at Karachi, when the bowlers took 20 extra minutes to complete bowling 50 overs.

Otago poured on the runs and the misery against a star-studded Canterbury when they declared on 601 on the second day of their State Championship match in Christchurch. Incidentally, it was just one run less than their record score against Canterbury.Greg Todd, in his first match back for Otago after a horrific leg injury he suffered last season, hit a career-best 160. He was well supported by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins (38) while bowlers Bradley Scott (52*) and Craig Smith (49) put on 75 for the ninth wicket.In reply, Canterbury limped to stumps at 144 for 4. Brendon McCullum, in the unfamiliar role as an opener, blitzed his way to 67 off just 72 deliveries, but found little support. Peter Fulton (17) and Nathan Astle (6) both fell to McCullum’s brother Nathan. Much of Canterbury’s resistance tomorrow will centre on Craig McMillan and Chris Harris, both at the crease.

Dilhara Fernando has been named in the 14-man Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XIsquad for the warm-up match against the Australians next week. Fernando gets a chance to prove his fitness ahead of the first Test in Galle.Fernando’s career has been plagued by injuries and this time he’s returning after recovering from a stress fracture in his back, the second time in a year. Fernando regained his place in the team for the third Test against England but broke down weeks later in the Provincial tournament.The President’s XI, which will be led by Russel Arnold, also includes Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, and legspinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi. Both bowlers are in contention for a place in the Test squad.The three-day practice match will also mark Shane Warne’s return tothe Australian side. It will be played from March 2 at the Colombo Cricket Club. The first Test starts on March 8 in Galle.Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI Squad
1 Russel Arnold (capt), 2 Avishka Gunawardana, 3 Saman Jayantha, 4 SajithFernando, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Lanka de Silva (wk), 7 Gayan Wijekoon, 8 Kaushal Lokuarachchi, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Ruchira Perera, 12 Omesh Wijesiriwardene, 13 Dhammika Sudarshana, 14 Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.

Warwickshire are concerned that Makhaya Ntini will not be allowed to play for them next season. Ntini, who took 23 wickets during South Africa’s tour of England, held talks with the club earlier this week before flying home.But to be able to play he needs to get permission from the South African board, as do all their contracted players. A Warwickshire spokesman said: “We’d like to see him here, he would like to be here, but the stumbling block could be the UCB. It is becoming more difficult with overseas players, particularly bowlers, because they do have a heavy workload.”Ntini has taken 123 wickets in 36 Tests at an average of 29.69, and won the joint Man of the Match award at the second Test this summer after becoming the first South African to take ten wickets at Lord’s.The concerns about his move to Warwickshire follow more problems they have had this season with their overseas players. Corey Collymore was the latest player to join Waqar Younis after Shane Bond, Michael Clark and Collins Obuya were forced to withdraw.Meanwhile, Neil Smith, a former captain, and Melvyn Betts and Mo Sheikh are to be released at the end of the season, while Trevor Penney has been awarded an extension to his one-day contract.

It’s just 10 days since the last ball was bowled at Derby and Hampshire celebrated their promotion in the National League. I had the opportunity to talk to the Hampshire players about their winter plans:-Derek Kenway Is taking a rest from cricket, although keeping fit with regular visits to the gym, he will be helping friends out at a Delivery Company and setting up “Posh Parties” as a side line.Will Kendall has set off with wife Emily on a 10 week tour to Chile, New Zealand, Australia and South Asia. From December he will be involved in some coaching at The Rose Bowl, and keeping himself in trim.Alan Mullally will be having an ankle operation in Perth in October. He hopes the injury that has kept him from playing many of the Championship matches in 2003, will be sorted. After Christmas he is hoping to play some grade cricket in Australia.James Hamblin currently on holiday in Florida, will keep fit up to the end of the year, and then will be working on his rehab in Sydney.Nic Pothas On holiday to Greece next week, he is off to South Africa on 28th October, where apart from keeping fit will be looking after some family business interests. He has a flourishing Carpet and Upholstery cleaning business in Southampton and Coulston in Surrey.Lawrence Prittipaul is off to play Grade Cricket in Perth, Australia, and will be working on his technique and fitness with Hampshire manager Paul Terry.Chris Tremlett is now off his crutches following his hip operation, and is making steady progress. He will be off to New South Wales working with the staff there including Hampshire physio Patrick Farhart.James Bruce is like Prittipaul off to Perth to work with Paul Terry, and play for South Perth Cricket Club at weekends.Jimmy Adams is back to Loughborough for his last year at University.James Tomlinson is back to Cardiff University. He has an excellent coach in Rob Ahman at Cardiff, so will be keeping fit and ready for the new 2004 season.Dimitri Mascarenhas although playing for Melville Cricket Club in Perth, after an arduous season in UK, will be looking to a much more relaxing winter, soaking up some sum.John Crawley His winter plans are yet to be finalised after the disappointment of being excluded from the England’s touring squads. He is currently taking an Open University course and working a few days a week with the Rose Bowl marketing team and also for BSports Management Company.Shaun Udal The operation he had on his shoulder last week has been very successful, in fact the specialist told him that it was not as serious a problem as had been muted. A family holiday in Barbados at Christmas, followed by extensive training.News as it happens; throughout the winter months will appear here on the Hampshire Web site, so please keep visiting…

India 255 for 6 (Dravid 84, Yuvraj 69) beat Zimbabwe 231 by 24 runs
Scorecard

A match which seemed to be going India’s way turned out to be much closer than expected, as Zimbabwe made a spirited fist of chasing their 256-run target. Ultimately, despite healthy contributions from Sean Ervine and Dion Ebrahim (39 each), they fell 24 short, handing India their third win of the series, which took their VB Series points tally to 17.Zimbabwe had little to cheer about in their first three matches, but they showed far more intensity today. It started with a splendid display in the afternoon, when they excelled in the field and bowled with plenty of discipline to restrict India – despite Yuvraj Singh’s 69 and Rahul Dravid’s 84 – to reasonable limits. Then they showed plenty of resolve with the bat as well.Importantly, Zimbabwe attempted to fix the aspect of their game which had caused the most concern in the earlier matches – their top-order batting. Grant Flower was promoted to open, Travis Friend played as a specialist batsman and was slotted in at No. 3, and Stuart Carlisle returned after missing the previous game with an injury.The moves seemed to pay off, too, as Zimbabwe got off to their best start of the tournament. Mark Vermeulen was forced to retire hurt after being hit just above his right eye by an Irfan Pathan short ball – reports later confirmed that he had suffered a fracture – but Flower guided the early part of the run-chase, scoring 36 as Zimbabwe reached 65 without loss at the 15-over mark. Then, instead of a period of consolidation, there came a period of capitulation, as four wickets went down for the addition of 15 runs in seven overs.Friend was run out by a direct hit from Sourav Ganguly (66 for 1), Flower carved Ashish Nehra straight to VVS Laxman at deep extra cover (70 for 2), then Andy Blignaut, promoted to keep the asking rate under control, slapped a drive straight to Yuvraj at point (73 for 3). When Heath Streak suffered a rare failure, bowled through the gate by Ganguly for 3, Zimbabwe had slumped to 81 for 4, with all the earlier good work undone. Carlisle and Tatenda Taibu stopped the rot, adding 47 on either side of a 45-minute rain delay, but both perished soon after the resumption, and Zimbabwe, six down and requiring a further 108 from 13 overs, seemed out for the count.But Ervine and Ebrahim thought otherwise, clubbing drives down the ground repeatedly. Anil Kumble, in particular, felt the heat, going for 22 in two overs as Ervine pulled and steered boundaries, and Ebrahim executed a perfect reverse-sweep for four. Balaji, who bowled quite superbly throughout, finally broke through when Ervine clubbed a cover-drive straight to Ganguly, ending a frenetic 49-run stand.The run-chase was far from over, though, as Ray Price thrashed seven off his first two balls. Zimbabwe needed just 25 from the last three overs when Pathan – who, along with Balaji, was again India’s best bowler – finally nailed the contest, persuading Ebrahim to hole out to Ganguly at midwicket (231 for 8). With Vermeulen not fit to return, that wicket effectively ended Zimbabwe’s charge.India’s total of 255 owed much to a stand of 114 for the fourth wicket between Yuvraj and Dravid, which bailed the team out after they had stuttered out of the blocks.On a flat pitch and against a modest Zimbabwean attack, the Indians would have expected a torrent of runs after opting to bat, but it didn’t quite pan out that way as they managed just 67 in the first 15 overs, losing both openers in the process. Both Streak and Blignaut bowled testing spells, forcing the batsmen to take risks.The rewards followed: Parthiv Patel, in the team in place of the injured Sachin Tendulkar, was bowled attempting a pull (41 for 1), Ganguly – for the second time in consecutive matches – fell to a short ball, and a magnificent one-handed catch by Douglas Hondo at short fine leg (67 for 2). When Laxman wafted loosely at one outside off and was caught behind, the Indian innings had slumped to 74 for 3, and was in danger of coming unstuck.Dravid and Yuvraj then stitched together the revival. Dravid wasn’t quite as fluent as in the match against Australia two days before, but his solidity was the ideal foil for Yuvraj’s exuberance. Both started off with risk-free batting, before gradually stepping it up – Yuvraj essayed his trademark powerful pulls and drives, while Dravid finally started finding the gaps in the field.It was still hard work, though, as the Zimbabweans threw themselves at the ball with gusto and stopped almost everything – Hondo at short third man and Ebrahim in the outfield were outstanding.Price finally ended the partnership with the last ball of his spell, when he sneaked one through the gate to bowl Yuvraj (188 for 4). Rohan Gavaskar, sent in ahead of Hemang Badani, and Dravid kept the momentum going with some superb running between the wickets and a few meaty blows. Both Gavaskar and Dravid fell in the space of three balls in the quest for quick runs, and it needed a slogged four from Pathan to lift India past 250. As it turned out, it was just enough to sneak a win.

The former West Indian captain, Carl Hooper, has agreed to play for Lancashire for the remainder of the 2003 season. Hooper, 36, had originally been brought in as short-term cover for Harbhajan Singh, but when Singh failed to recover from a finger injury, Hooper was the obvious replacement."I’m delighted that Mike Watkinson asked me to stay," said Hooper. "I’ve really enjoyed my time here with Lancashire and it’s a bonus to be able to work with the team over what should be a very exciting season." Hooper has yet to hit top form with the bat this season, with a Championship best score of 74, but in Harbhajan’s absence, his offspinners have proved effective. He took 5 for 52 in Lancashire’s ten-wicket victory against Leicestershire at Liverpool.Mike Watkinson, Lancashire’s cricket manager welcomed Hooper’s continued presence at Old Trafford: "Carl’s been a valuable addition to the squad and even though we were looking forward to Harbhajan arriving, Carl has filled the position admirably and under the circumstances, I’m glad that he’s decided to stay with us."